1973–Grateful Dead-Duke University-Cameron Stadium Concert Poster-FINEST KNOWN CONDITION CENSUS*WILD PROVENANCE! PAE Graded Mint '91'

closed on Friday, June 26, 2020

Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$11,400.00
Starting bid: $1.00

One More Saturday Night! Here's a poster that EVERYONE wants but NO ONE can find! Including Us! This MONSTER RARITY is one of the most difficult Grateful Dead concert posters to find in ANY condition and is the very FIRST we have ever offered in our auctions. 

 

What makes this extra exciting is that this is WITHOUT A DOUBT THE FINEST QUALITY SPECIMEN WE HAVE EVER SEEN OR HEARD OF and could quite possibly be the finest in existence!

 

The magnificent artwork was designed by Ray Simone for the band's appearance at Cameron Indoor Stadium Duke University on saturday night December 8th 1973. 

 

The Grateful Dead in 1973 were on the cusp of a transition in their sound and songwriting. Pigpen was no longer in the mix and the keyboard style of Keith Godchaux created new textures in the group's compositions. The long 31 song Saturday night show at Duke University was incredible and the soundboard recording has circulated between fans for decades as a deadhead favorite. This concert was just months after the release of their album "Wake of The Flood" which featured many of the newer tunes in the show - including the full Weather Report Suite. The Candyman was a highlight of the first set and of course they encored with One More Saturday Night! 

 

* Wild Provenance with Accompanied Letter* 

 

This poster can be traced back to a gentleman named R.C. Bradley who attended Duke University at the time of the concert. R.C. (now deceased) worked for a local promoter while attending Duke. Less than 2 years after the concert R.C. returned to his hometown of Tulsa Oklahoma. R.C. and his friends took over the long dormant Cain's Ballroom. Starting in January 1975 R.C. and his gang began producing a series of legendary concerts putting Cain's Ballroom back on the map. ALL OF THIS IS FULLY EXPLAINED ON PAGE 326 of The Art of Rock! 

 

The winning bidder of this lot will receive a letter attesting to this fabulous provenance.

 

Furthermore this first printing produced on extra thick vellum has only appeared a 2-3 times at auction in the past 15 years. Most recently a RESTORED specimen that can't be compared in the same breath with the specimen offered here realized $8 337.

 

In short this represents an unsurpassed opportunity for the advanced collector. This poster has EVERYTHING you could ever ask for in a single vintage concert poster.... Legendary band performing what many consider one of their very best legendary performances .. insanely great art...ridiculous all but impossible to find rarity ... and POSSIBLE FINEST KNOWN Museum Quality.

 

It is our believe that heavily damaged specimens are worth $5 000 and up so we will conservatively estimate this FINEST KNOWN specimen at $7 500 -$15 000

 

Poster – Grateful Dead Duke University

Grade – PAE Mint 91

Bands/Bill – Grateful Dead

Venue – Cameron Indoor Stadium Duke University

City – Durham NC

Date – 12/8/73

Dimensions – 14" x 21 3/4"

Printing – OP-1 Original Pre-Concert First Printing

Artist – Ray Simone

Condition Details - Super clean with no nicks cuts tears or pinholes. 100% Original with no restoration. 1" crease in the bottom left corner bump bottom right small white print flaw bottom right. View the detailed high res photo of this lot. Click on the thumbnail photo to see an enlarged photo. Click a second time on the magnifying glass in the upper right corner of the enlarged photo. A super high res image with every millimeter will now be clearly displayed. For a personalized eyewitness examination call 410-464-6180 11:00 am to 6:00 pm eastern.

 

*****This Poster is available for inspection at our gallery by appointment. *****

 

*A 20% Buyers Premium will be added to the final hammer price of this lot.*

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