closed on Sunday, January 16, 2022
Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$2,400.00
Starting bid: $1.00
Total bids: 16
Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$2,400.00
Starting bid: $1.00
Total bids: 16
This is the finest quality condition, CGC graded example of one of Rick Griffin's earliest and most historically important handbills to appear in our auction! The Human Be-In kicked off the Summer of Love. It was originally conceived as an opportunity for the San Francisco Bohemians and Berkeley radicals to join forces in celebration of their respective counter culture ideals. The Stage was taken by the major San Francisco bands of the day, as well as Psychedelic advocates, political radicals, beat writers and spiritualists. Key figures included Tim Leary, Ram Dass, Allen Ginsburg and Jerry Rubin who spoke to the gathering of 30,000. The Be-in was a true illustration of the ideals of the Haight and probably the last true gathering before the innocence of the culture would be lost. Due to the unsurpassed historical significance of this image and the incredible Rick Griffin design, this handbill is considered one of the most important and desirable images ever created. The worldwide demand has always overwhelmed the tiny available supply. The poster in this CGC 9.8 quality, featuring the very same Griffin art, is worth close to $10,000. This handbill, featuring the same art and artist in museum quality condition, represents a tremendous bargain by comparison. In July 2020, a lower graded 9.6 example reached $1,920 in our auction.
This is the first printing textured stock version. This version was printed on thick, rough, almost bumpy, stock, rather than the thinner, smooth surfaced stock. Some folks call this version OHB-B, as opposed to the smooth stock version designated Type A. San Francisco rock bands of that era performed at this major event and even though the bands are not listed on the handbill: THE GRATEFUL DEAD, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, JANIS JOPLIN with BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY were there as well as many more of the up and coming San Francisco groups. This nascent Human Be-In was Dr. Timothy Leary's first appearance in San Francisco, where he set the tone for the day / evoked his signature Turn on, tune in, drop out mantra.
--CRITICAL DETAILS--
--TITLE: Aor-2.215
--GRADE: 9.8
--PERFORMERS: Pow-Wow
--VENUE: Polo Grounds Golden Gate Park
--CITY: San Francisco
--DATE: 01/14/67
--PRINTING: OHB-B; Handbill
--CGC SERIAL: 2510668015
This is the first printing textured stock version. This version was printed on thick, rough, almost bumpy, stock, rather than the thinner, smooth surfaced stock. Some folks call this version OHB-B, as opposed to the smooth stock version designated Type A. San Francisco rock bands of that era performed at this major event and even though the bands are not listed on the handbill: THE GRATEFUL DEAD, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, JANIS JOPLIN with BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY were there as well as many more of the up and coming San Francisco groups. This nascent Human Be-In was Dr. Timothy Leary's first appearance in San Francisco, where he set the tone for the day / evoked his signature Turn on, tune in, drop out mantra.
--CRITICAL DETAILS--
--TITLE: Aor-2.215
--GRADE: 9.8
--PERFORMERS: Pow-Wow
--VENUE: Polo Grounds Golden Gate Park
--CITY: San Francisco
--DATE: 01/14/67
--PRINTING: OHB-B; Handbill
--CGC SERIAL: 2510668015