1966 FD-26 Grateful Dead Avalon Ballroom Poster CGC 6.5 Restored

This poster has been professionally restored to offer the appearance and eye appeal of a clean copy! Restoration includes color touch, pieces added, and reinforced. This poster is also slightly trimmed. 

Practically every serious collector of 1960s San Francisco Ballroom posters has a spot in their collection for an FD-26, 1966 Grateful Dead Avalon Ballroom Skeleton and Roses. This poster was an immediate success and disappeared from wherever it was posted. The outstanding illustration by Edmund Sullivan, appropriated by Mouse and Kelley, has retained its mystique and desirability for nearly six decades since it was printed.

The growth of concert posters as valuable collectibles is intricately linked to this poster. It was the first San Francisco Psychedelic poster to hit the six-figure mark and serves as a gauge of the evolving trajectory of concert poster values.

Since the day it rolled off the press, this poster has been displayed lovingly. The appeal of the image and its connection to the Dead made this artwork incredibly appealing to fans. Countless copies found their way onto walls, enduring years of admiration and ultimately decay. The allure was so compelling that reprints were produced to meet the overwhelming demand. This seminal work is the centerpiece of the San Francisco poster movement and has evolved into a seriously valuable collectible over the years. PAE has auctioned 17 original printings. To see PAE's past sales, click here.

When a collector decides that they’re ready to purchase an original FD-26, several factors must be considered. The primary consideration for most is budget, so it often comes down to finding the best possible copy available within their price range. The top of the scale for an FD-26 demands an investment of $120,000 or more. If that number is out of reach, collectors must then consider which available copy is the best fit for their collection. If the buyer is demanding a CGC certified copy, the choice becomes whether to buy an original condition copy or a restored copy. If a restored copy is acceptable, then it's down to finding the right copy based on their preference.

Restoration of concert posters was accepted by hobbyists long before CGC grading. Eye appeal was considered the primary criterion historically, so many collectors sharpened the look of the poster by filling pinholes and blemishes. This copy of the poster has been professionally restored to offer the appearance and eye appeal of a clean copy! The original copy was soiled and creased. It had a ¼ piece of material hanging by a thread on the right side that was reattached. The CGC label reads, "Restoration includes color touch, pieces added and reinforced, and slightly trimmed." The width is 13 29/32”.

Restored examples are gauged on the amount of repair and the quality of the work. CGC assigns where the posters fit on their restoration scale. This copy was assigned a B-3. See here for details: CGC Restoration Scale.

PAE has previously auctioned three FD-26-OP-1 posters in the CGC Purple labeled holders: a CGC 7.0 in 2018 for $4,314, a 7.5 for $6,000 in 2019, and an 8.0 for $6,600 in 2018. An OP-1 in a restoration holder generally sells for ⅓ the cost of an original condition copy.

Identifying restoration is perhaps the top reason to purchase CGC-certified posters. As many posters are still sold outside of CGC holders, buyers need to heavily scrutinize the poster for potential hidden restoration.

Condition: Slightly trimmed. Restoration: Includes color touch, pieces added and reinforced.

--CRITICAL DETAILS--
--TITLE: FD-26 Poster
--GRADE: CGC 6.5 Restored
--PERFORMERS: Grateful Dead, Oxford Circle
--VENUE: Avalon Ballroom
--CITY: San Francisco
--DATE: 09/16/66
--PRINTING: OP-1; Original Pre-Concert First Printing Poster
--SIZE: 14.13 x 20

A 20% Buyers Premium will be added to the final hammer price of this lot. 
High resolution HD photos available on request. 
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