Big Brother& the Holding Company; Charlatans; Blue Cheer; Moscoso, Victor; Hillyard, Roger; van Meter, Ben

Original Concert Poster: Big Brother & the Holding Company, Charlatans, Blue Cheer ("Eye Ball," March 31-April 1, 1967)

San Francisco, CA: Family Dog Productions, 1967. First Edition. Single Sheet. A poster (appx. 14" x 20") announcing a "Dance Concert- Eye Ball" with performances headlined by Big Brother & the Holding Company, along with the Charlatans & Blue Cheer, during March 31-April 1, 1967 at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco. The great Spanish-American artist Victor Moscoso (b. 1936) created the artwork & graphics reproduced here, & "Moscoso" in facsimile cursive handwriting is found at lower right blue border just below border of image near right corner (see image). Also credited for "Lights" are "van Meter and Hillyard." Roger Hillyard (b. 1942) was highly involved with the exemplary psychedelic light shows of this era, later became the proprietor of a popular coffee shop & most lately the practicing resident of a Zen Buddhist center- all in San Francisco. Van Meter (b. 1941) was also a major light show producer & noted experimental filmmaker at this time, & still engages in cutting-edge creativity as of this writing. According to the (in this case especially) Talmudic scholarship we have consulted regarding this poster (which is similar in its depth to that of our underground comix from this period), this copy is a first printing, one of two concurrent variations that are difficult to compare, but both of which have several points that are present here: A fluorescent glow of blank verso under black light (which we have confirmed); & the presence of two very tiny dots at upper left blue margin near corner. King, FD-55-OP-1, pg. 115. King writes: "The central image is made up of concentric diamond shapes of different colors which form the lettering. This pattern of concentric diamond shapes was inspired by a Native American object called a God's Eye which is made by placing two sticks at 90 degree angles and wrapping yarn clockwise or counter clockwise between the sticks beginning at the center and working outward. Usually several different colors of yarn are used." (pg. 115) A dazzling, hypnotic exemplar of the Moscoso psychedelic style that was reaching its apotheosis as the "Summer of Love" approached, in its rarest contemporary form. From the collection of Dion Wright (b. 1937), a venerable 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 dazed but discerning & experienced estimation, this poster is in relatively very fine condition with only a touch of wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners- the entire printed recto appears bright & substantially mint. This item is too delicate to be rolled & must be shipped flat to assure no damage, therefore extra shipping costs will be required. Very Fine. [Item #5647]

Price: $1,000.00