Jefferson Airplane; Grateful Dead; Greene, Herb; Wilson, Wes

Original Concert Poster: Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead (August 12-13, 1966)

San Francisco, CA: Bill Graham, 1966. First Edition, First Printing. Single Sheet. A poster (appx. 14&1/8" x 20") announcing a concert presented by Bill Graham headlined by Jefferson Airplane along with the Grateful Dead during August 12-13, 1966 at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. The acclaimed American artist Wes Wilson (1937-2020) created the graphics & illustrations reproduced here, & "Wes Wilson '66" in facsimile hand-lettering & numbers is found (barely visible against dark purple background) just outside red border of image at lower right (see our image). Also credited for the photograph of members of the Grateful Dead from which that part of the image was created (lower grouping) is Herb Greene (b. 1942), among the foremost photographers for posters, magazines & album covers of this era. According to the Talmudic scholarship which we have studied regarding this poster (which is similar in its depth to that of our underground comix from this period), this copy is from the first version of the first printing, with the "Wes Wilson '66" credit; dark purple background, borders & band images; bled colors on recto & fluorescence under black light (which we have confirmed, albeit somewhat faded with age). King, BG-23-OP-1-A, pgs. 334-335. King notes: "It is worth noting that the greatness of the psychedelic poster art of this period was not due only to the talents of the artists who created it but also to the vision of the photographers whose photographs appeared on many of the posters. This is the first appearance of photographs by Herb Greene in the Fillmore series. These photographs went on to become some of the most famous photographs of the (Jefferson) Airplane and the (Grateful) Dead. It is also the first appearance of what is known as the Roeller alphabet, an alphabet designed by Vienna Secessionist artist, Alfred Roeller who worked around the turn of the 20th-century. Immediately prior to the creation of this poster Wes Wilson went to a show which included graphic designs by Roeller. It is one of the marks of Wilson's genius that he did not simply copy Roeller's alphabet but that after using it several times, he modified it substantially and came up with versions of his own." (pgs. 335-336) We note that while the poster itself credits Greene only for the Grateful Dead photo, King appears to credit Greene for both band photos from which the images here were made. A truly classic, particularly exemplary relic of the early psychedelic musical counterculture from the year before its zenith during the "Summer of Love," in its absolutely rarest contemporary form. 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 & the many other iconic posters that symbolize a legendary time & place (see Wright's memoir, Tempus Fugitive, item No. 5008). In our diligently observant & experienced estimation, this poster is in fine-verging-on-very-fine condition with only mild wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners (no apparent rubbing, fading or browning to effectively pristine image, background); one very small area with two creases/ partially closed tears forming a triangle at blank dark purple upper right side margin/edge (it is only this latter point which obligates us to stop just short of declaring this poster very fine). This item is too delicate to be rolled & must be shipped flat to assure no damage, therefore extra shipping costs will be required. Fine- Very Fine. [Item #5246]

Price: $2,500.00