Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$748.00
Starting bid: $1.00
We are always tickled to come across ORIGINAL ART by the late great master Rick Griffin. He undoubtedly had a solid track record for memorable album cover art associated with bands like The Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service as well as his trademark lettering style for several other bands’ graphics throughout three amazing decades. He also produced album art for the Christian record label “Maranatha! Music” during the 80’s.
This is a preliminary pen & ink study of Griffin’s album cover art for the 1986 Quicksilver Messenger Service release called “Peace by Piece”. It was the ninth album by the San Francisco rock band and the first to be released with guitarist Gary Duncan leading the project. Martin Fierro noted saxophone player from Jerry Garcia’s “Legion of Mary” performed on the record however no members of the original Quicksilver lineup appeared on the album.
The ink study shown here exhibits the same classic psychedelic lettering Griffin created for Quicksilver’s debut album in 1968. The most noticeable difference between this and the final version of the later “Peace by Piece” album cover is the positioning of the soldier. He is shown facing us head on in the final version however this early preliminary study has him in a profile shot orientation and looking up at the sky with his rifle pointed upward.
In recent years we have witnessed a huge increase in demand for Original Art by collectors worldwide. The reason is simple. In most cases a preliminary drawing like this does not make it outside the artist’s circle of immediate family or personal possessions. So when something like this DOES surface its uniqueness and desirability flourishes quickly. This ULTRA RARE find is unfinished and not signed. This piece belonged to the artist and was subsequently acquired by Jacaeber Kastor a known collector of Griffin’s work. A unique treasure in its own rite this piece of original art is ONE OF A KIND and will not surface again!
Artwork – Peace by Piece Early Ink Study
Grade – PAE Not Graded
Date – 1986
Dimensions – 17" x 24"
Printing – Original Artwork
Artist – Rick Griffin
Condition Details – This original art is not graded. 100% Original with no restoration. 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 piece is available for inspection at our gallery by appointment. *****
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