Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$26,400.00
Starting bid: $1.00
This lot will be accompanied by a Letter of Provenance attesting to the fact that it resided in the historic Early '66 Time Capsule Collection one of the most exciting and important concert poster discoveries of the past 20 years.
It is with EXTREME pleasure we present to the collecting community what many consider to be the rarest and most desirable 1960's psychedelic concert poster ever created! One of just a handful known this is the VERY FIRST example of this Major Museum Rarity that we have EVER handled. It is the very FIRST CGC graded example to EVER appear at auction and just the second to have been offered at public auction in recent memory. It is also the ONLY 100% ORIGINAL specimen to appear in our auction archives.
In April 1966 The Grateful Dead had just returned to San Francisco after a month-long jaunt to Los Angeles which included stops at the legendary Troupers Hall Acid Test and the Pico Acid Test. This SUPER LARGE cardboard poster was created in wonderful split fountain ink with the promise of "celebrity drop ins" and admonitions to "dress the way you are".
Many knowledgeable and long term collectors have 3 words to describe this Legendary Classic --
Best. Poster. Ever.
Likewise it is not an understatement to say that there are MANY highly sophisticated collectors with VERY DEEP POCKETS that have been unsuccessfully chasing this elusive masterpiece for literally DECADES. We count ourselves in this group.
Because the MANY have been chasing the FEW the price commanded for this poster and handbill are sky high. Our archives show a HANDBILL of this issue commanded $11 274 on 9/11/16 and a HEAVILY TRIMMED specimen of the poster that was cataloged as:
"Great condition with a stress line across the center pinholes in each corner as well as staple holes. HAS APPROXIMATELY 1/4 inch FROM BOTH THE TOP AND BOTTOM TRIMMED OFF. Also light stains and tape pulls on back."
This specimen commanded $44 467 on 5/14/17. Of course neither of these specimens were independently authenticated or graded by CGC.
The fact we have bought and sold many thousands of posters for many millions of dollars without EVER previously handling this Mythical Rarity tells you that the only way to unearth a specimen is when great collections like the Early '66 Time Capsule collection -- a collection that was OFF THE MARKET FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS -- surfaces.
This poster has it all. The most popular band in The Dead. The incredible design. Huge Design. CARDBOARD. ACID TEST/TRIPS Festival at Longshoremen's Hall. Ridiculous rarity.
For all of us at PAE holding and offering this poster is a dream come true. For one lucky individual their dream will now come true too.
In regards to value it's impossible to determine it all depends who shows up. But we would not be surprised if national headlines are made and world record prices are smashed when the final price is hammered.
Poster – Grateful Dead Trips Festival
Grade – CGC 5.5
Bands/Bill – Grateful Dead Loading Zone
Venue – Longshoremen’s Hall
City – San Francisco CA
Date – 4/22-24/66
Dimensions – 16" x 24 7/16"
Printing – OP-1 Original Pre-Concert First Printing
Series/Promoter - Stewart Brand
Printer - Tilghman Press
Paper Type – Cardboard
Condition Details - 100% Original with no restoration. Minor paper loss bottom right corner single tack hole in each of the top corners three tiny pinholes bottom edge staples holes left edge scrape on left edge on the "2" creases original toning. 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. *****
*A 20% Buyers Premium will be added to the final hammer price of this lot.*
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