Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$10,800.00
Starting bid: $1.00
The FD 26 Original Poster is without question one of the “Holy Grails” in the entire Psychedelic Concert Poster genre. This issue is on everybody’s top 3 lists of “most desirable” posters. This world famous piece of art was designed by the legendary 1960’s concert poster artists Stanley Mouse and the late great Alton Kelley.
The story of Mouse and Kelley searching the stacks at the San Francisco library for an appropriate illustration for the poster is well documented. The duo discovered this illustration by 19th century artist Edward Joseph Sullivan for an edition of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.
If we had to own just ONE PIECE for our own personal collection this would be it. This poster defines the term “historically important”. The “Skull and Roses” from this very poster would be appropriated by the Dead for the rest of their careers and go on to be a world famous internationally recognized logo for the band. It is estimated that just 2500 Original First Printings were produced! Probably 5-15% of these have survived the past 52 years in ANY condition.
PAE is pleased to have received MANY national headlines for our record setting activities with this legendary issue. We shocked the collectibles world when we sold a CGC graded 9.4 example for a then record breaking $50 600 in July 2018 and then broke our own record when we auctioned off a 9.8 specimen for $56 4000 earlier this year in May.
It's important to note that PAE is the only auction house to offer ANY Original First Printings that have been independently authenticated and graded by CGC. And it's not just the high end of the grading spectrum that has received worldwide accolades. We recently auctioned off a CGC graded 5.0 specimen for $20 400! Clearly the market is showing that there is an insatiable appetite for any 100% Original examples that have NOT been restored or messed with. It will be interesting to see what this lovely and completely Original 7.0 example commands at this time.
Poster – Grateful Dead Avalon Ballroom
Catalog #FD-26
Grade – CGC 7.0
Bands/Bill - Grateful Dead Oxford Circle
Venue - Avalon Ballroom
City - San Francisco California
Date - 9/16-17/1966
Dimensions - 14 3/16” x 19 15/16”
Printing - OP-1 Original Pre-Concert First Printing
Artist - Stanley Mouse Alton Kelley
Series/Promoter - Family Dog
Paper - Vellum
Condition Details - 100% Original with no restoration of any kind. Colors are bright and fresh. Paper loss top edge stain left edge creases bottom left corner. 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.*