1966-FD-12-OP-2-Avalon Ballroom-Grateful Dead Concert Poster-ULTRA RARE THIN PAPER OP-2! CGC Graded 6.5

The FD-12 is a LEGENDARY issue of unsurpassed historical significance because it is the very FIRST time the image of a skeleton was associated with the Grateful Dead. This poster predates the FD-26 Skeleton and Roses poster by over 4 months. We know from Eric King's Collector's Guide that just 1000 of this poster was produced. Most of the original printing was printed on vellum. This thick vellum paper is known as OP-1. King's Collector's Guide attributes a fraction of the original issue of 1000 as OP-2 which were produced on "very thin paper similiar to that used for handbills. FD-12 OP-1 and FD-12 OP-2 are identical in image and it is unknown if the thin paper press run came before or after the vellum one or mixed paper was fed into the press."

All FD-12's regardless of their designation are extremely valuable and highly sought after in ANY condition. This issue routinely commands prices of $3 000 to $5 000 for examples with significant damage. Of the fraction of OP-2's that were produced on thin paper a FAR SMALLER PERCENTAGE SURVIVED IN ANY CONDITION compared to the OP-1. The reason for this is simple. The thin paper OP-2 version is so fragile that it even the slightest handling leaves an indelible mark.

Our auction archives trace just FIVE auction appearances of th FD-12 OP-2 during the past 10 years in ANY condition. One was restored two had significant damage and one was cataloged as "Excellent Near Mint". This last example was NOT independently authenticated and graded by CGC and realized $9817 on 5/12/16. In September 2018 the finest known example ever to appear at public sale graded 9.6 by CGC reached a record price of $26 450 in our auction. 

This poster here represents the coming together of a tiny original issuance of just 1000 created by a "Big Five" artist in Wes Wilson an iconic band in the Grateful Dead unsurpassed historical significance of the Dead's FIRST association with skeleton imagery the impossible to find OP-2 variety produced on ridiculously thin paper and independent third party authentication by CGC that confirms all of the above!

Poster – Grateful Dead Avalon Ballroom
Sub Title – FD-12
Grade – CGC 6.5
Bands/Bill- Grateful Dead Quicksilver Messenger Service and The New Tweedy Brothers
Venue- Avalon Ballroom
City – San Francisco California
Date – 6/10-11/66
Dimensions- 14 11/64” x 19 61/64”
Printing- (OP-2) Original Pre-Concert First Printing Version 2 (Thin Paper)
Artist – Wes Wilson
Series/Promoter- Family Dog

Paper Type - Very Thin

Condition Details – 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 poster is available for inspection at our gallery by appointment. *****