Graham, Bill (Graham, Bill; The Doors; Grateful Dead; Wilson, Wes et al.)

Original Concert Poster: The Doors, Grateful Dead, and Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band (January 13-15, 1967)

San Francisco, CA: Bill Graham, 1967. First Printing. Single Sheet. A poster (appx. 13&7/8" x 21&3/4") announcing performances by The Doors, The Grateful Dead & Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band during January 13-15, 1967 at Bill Graham's Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. The acclaimed American artist Wes Wilson (1937-2020) created the graphics & illustrations that are reproduced on this quintessential & exemplary psychedelic poster that led up to the legendary "Summer of Love." The facsimile hand-written statement "(c) 1966 Wes Wilson (three-dot triangle) 45" is printed just below the right area of the illustrated figure's neck. According to the Talmudic scholarship we have studied regarding this poster (which is similar in its depth to that of our underground comix from this period), this copy is a first printing- Type 1, with a visible thin black line across an upper area which separates a green upper-margin background from the purple upper border of the purple text on orange background (see image). With all points in King, BG-45-OP-1, pg. 377. King's entry also states that "The reverse of this item fluoresces or glows under black light." We closely examined blank verso of this poster under black light, against verso of another poster without this characteristic, & found a distinctive if subtle black-light fluorescence, perhaps somewhat faded over the decades from a stronger original effect. A classic relic of the 1960s musical counterculture near its zenith. From the collection of Dion Wright (b. 1937), a most respected & prolific artiste & sculptor who was at the center of the scene that produced this now-iconic poster in its rarest original form (see Wright's memoir, Tempus Fugitive, Item No. 5008). In our experienced estimation, the condition of this poster is fine, on the border of very fine, with only slight wear to upper & lower edges, corners; a few small creases & short, closed tears at same; one very small area at upper right edge-corner with tiny loss of paper. This item is too delicate to be rolled & must be shipped flat to assure no damage, therefore extra shipping costs will be required. Fine. [Item #5007]

Price: $1,750.00