1968 - Carousel Ballroom “Sore Thumb” - Grateful Dead - PAE Graded MINT95!

closed on Thursday, September 1, 2011

Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$4,428.00
Starting bid: $500.00

Here is the chance to acquire what is quite simply one of the most famous and most popular posters of the era! This Alton Kelley design pokes fun at the D.I.Y. nature of the Carousel. The Carousel Ballroom was a short lived venture that was funded and managed by the Dead and Airplane. After they lost enough money though they realized that it was not their game the space was taken over by Bill Graham and became the Fillmore West. The poster is signed in Ink by the Artist.This piece measures 14” x 19 15/16” and is pristine in all respects easily one of the finest we have ever seen or handled! There are no nicks cuts tears pinholes or restoration of any kind. This poster can be found in used damaged condition for a couple of thousand dollars and there are even some very rough copies with no tears or pinholes floating around that we have passed on through the years because they are too rough to call TRUE MINT. Just the slightest bit of handling upper right and a very miniscule handling instance upper left corner keep this from perfection. This poster is featured in the “Art of Rock” plate # 2.172. If you want one of these inferior copies you’ll still have to pay a few thousand dollars so it will be interested to see what this nearly un-improvable example brings in this sale. This is the epitome of a “blue chip” poster. A famous design a famous band and ultra rare in this state of preservation. A super poster that will bring you joy now and even greater satisfaction with each passing year!