Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$14,376.00
Starting bid: $1.00
This poster was signed in pencil by the artist Wes Wilson!
We are pleased to present the collecting community the very FIRST CGC graded example of this Legendary Rarity to ever be offered at public auction. Issued 52 years ago The "Batman " is just the second poster in the Bill Graham series and is unquestionably the rarest KEY TO THE FILLMORE SET.
Less than 500 Original First Printings were produced with possibly about a dozen surviving in ANY condition. Of these surviving specimens a HUGE percentage of surviving "Batman's" are known to have professional restoration that can be difficult for anyone but a seasoned expert to detect.
You can bid with confidence on this lot as it has been independently authenticated and graded by CGC as being 100% Original with no restoration of any kind. If you are considering bidding on this lot we urge you to read our blog dated 3/8/2010 that discusses the importance to collecting the KEYS to a set.
The public offering of a "Batman" is a major event amongst vintage concert poster collectors. There are literally thousand of collectors building Bill Graham Fillmore collections but just a lucky few will ever own this KEY TO THE SET and have the satisfaction of owning a complete collection. Clearly demand for this issue completely overwhelms the tiny number of surviving specimens.
The extreme rarity and desirability of this issue is underscored by the prices this issue commands at auction. Heavily restored copies can realize over $10 000 (6/16) and two different 100% original restoration free specimens we are aware of one with a tear (2/14) and the other with pinholes(5/12) each realized over $20 000 at auction. We are also aware of a copy that was described as "Mint" that traded for $30 000 privately. Indeed even the reprints are highly sought after and command substantial sums!
The unrestored specimen offered here is a remarkably clean example. It has 100% Full Borders devoid of ANY nicks cuts or tears. As such this lot is sure to draw much excitement now while guaranteeing the new owner the satisfaction of knowing it will ALWAYS be a MAJOR HIGHLIGHT of any auction in which it appears! Perhaps this is the very definition of a MAJOR MUSEUM PIECE!
Poster – Big Brother & the Holding Co. Fillmore West
Catalog #BG-2
Grade – CGC 7.0
Band/Bill – Big Brother & the Holding Co. Mystery Trend The Family Tree Quicksilver Messenger Service The Gentlemen’s Band Great Society the Skins
Venue – Fillmore West
City – San Francisco CA
Date – 3/18-20/1966
Dimensions – 13 63/64 X 19 31/32”
Printing – OP-1 Original Pre-Concert First Printing
Artist – Wes Wilson
Series/Promoter – Bill Graham
Condition Details – Super clean! 100% Original with no restoration! 100% full borders with no nicks cuts or tears. A set of staple holes in each corner except bottom left corner has just one tiny hole. A tiny scrape above the "A" in Graham uneven toning attests that this poster is original and restoration free. 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 6:00pm eastern.
*****This poster is available for inspection at our gallery by appointment. *****
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