Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$31,051.00
Starting bid: $1.00
This poster was signed in pencil by the artist Wes Wilson!
Two Important Firsts - We are very excited to offer the very FIRST CGC graded example of this legendary rarity to ever appear at public auction. This poster is so rare this lot is also the VERY FIRST Family Dog #2 to appear in the 80 auctions we have held to date!
The World Famous King Kong Memorial Dance- It is universally recognized that this historic 52 year old poster is without a doubt the rarest issue in The Family Dog series. The iconic and very popular Family Dog logo designed by Wes Wilson appears on a concert poster for the very first time. The rest of the poster was designed by The Family Dog's Chet Helms.
It is estimated that 200-300 posters were originally produced with the number of surviving copies probably hovering around the high single digits. The number of 100% Original specimens that are free of restoration can probably be counted on one hand.
Many surviving copies have undergone professional restoration that is hard for anyone but a seasoned expert to detect. Collectors can bid with complete confidence on this lot as this poster has been independently graded and authenticated by CGC as 100% Original with no restoration of any kind!
A Special Opportunity - It has been customary amongst advanced collectors to quietly trade Major Rarities such as this lot on a private basis for other Major Rarities. The reason for this is simple money can be found anywhere everyone has it! That's why not a week goes by where a collector tells us they are looking for a Family Dog #2! There are literally thousands of collectors assembling Family Dog sets but just a very few can own this KEY TO THE SET and claim a complete collection...regardless of their financial resources!
Securing a Family Dog #2 requires a certain amount of luck...being in the right place at the right time with the ability to act quickly and decisively when the opportunity presents itself. The chance to acquire this poster with an unbiased expert third party opinion on authenticity and grade by CGC has never before been made available to the collecting community!
There has just been one other Family Dog #2 to appear at public auction in the past 3 years. That poster was NOT signed by the artist and NOT independently graded and authenticated by CGC . It was cataloged as Very Fine with assorted pinholes four pieces of tape on the back and residue on the front. It realized $42 550 in February 2017.
There is no doubt that at today's price levels this poster IS expensive but also a TREMENDOUS BARGAIN. In every other major collectible market we follow items that possess this same level (or far less) of rarity historic importance and desirability routinely trade for $500 000 to over $1 000 000.
If you are even daydreaming about the possibility of bidding on this lot we urge you to read our blog dated 3/8/2010 about the importance on focusing on collecting THE KEYS TO A SET. It's always convenient and easy to set aside the rarest most expensive and hardest to find issues "for later". This is a mistake on two different levels:
First the KEYS to a set always enjoy massive demand that far exceeds the tiny available supply. It's like ocean front property they are not making anymore of it and prices steadliy increase over the long term. If you are going to own this poster "one day" there is no time like the present!
Second many collectors will look at the high values KEYS command and dismiss them immediately as "unaffordable". Then those same collectors will proceed to collect all the less expensive issues in the series spending multiples of what the KEY TO THE SET was available for in the first place.
This is a VERY common and costly mistake that leaves collectors "kicking themselves" years later. Almost every single collector has a story of "I wish I snapped up ABC when I had a chance to acquire it for just $XYZ!" Don't let this be you. Not this time!
The Bottom Line-
The collector that prevails victorious in this bidding competitiion will be adding a major Museum Rarity to their collection. The Family Dog #2 always has been and always will be one of the most sought after concert posters ever created. It is sure to bring the new owner much enjoyment now while the appreciation and appeal of this legendary rarity is sure to increase with each passing year!
Poster – Big Brother & the Holding Company at Fillmore Auditorium
Catalog #FD-2
Grade – CGC 7.5
Bands/Bill – The Great Society Grass Roots Big Brother & The Holding Company Quicksilver Messenger Service
Venue – Fillmore Auditorium
City – San Francisco California
Date – 2/26/1966
Dimensions – 13 61/64” x 19 31/32”
Printing – OP-1 Original Pre-Concert First Printing
Artist – Wes Wilson
Series/Promoter – Family Dog
Condition Details – This poster is completely fresh and has been off the market for decades. 100% Original with no restoration. Blemish free edges and full corners except for tiny 1/16" nick top edge. 3 pin holes top left corner 5 pin holes (2 are microscopic) top right corner 1 pin hole on right edge near top small discoloration right edge tack hole bottom right corner 3 pin holes bottom center 2 pin holes bottom left corner 1 pin hole on the left edge 5 1/2" from the bottom 1 pin hole just to the right of the Y in saturday "2" noted on reverse.
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 lot is also available for your inspection at our Gallery in Baltimore Maryland.
*****This poster is available for inspection at our gallery by appointment. *****
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