Charlatans; Blue Cheer; Other Half; Salvation Army Banned; 13th Floor Elevators; Youngbloods; Fried, Robert; Greene, Herb; Griffin, Rick; Hillyard, Roger; van Meter, Ben

Original Concert Posters: Charlatans, Blue Cheer, Other Half, Salvation Army Banned, Thirteenth Floor Elevators, Youngbloods (May 26-28, June 22-25, July 13-16, 1967)

San Francisco, CA: Family Dog Productions, 1967. First Editions. Single Sheets. Three posters (each appx. 13&7/8" x 21&7/8") which when placed together form a single triptych image with "CHA/RLA/T/ANS" boldly printed at top, announcing three concerts each headlined by the Charlatans, along with Salvation Army Banned & Blue Cheer (during May 26-28, 1967); the 13th Floor Elevators (June 22-25, 1967); & the Youngbloods & the Other Half (July 13-16, 1967) at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco. The legendary American psychedelic artist Rick Griffin (b. Richard Alden Griffin, 1944-1991) created the artwork & graphics reproduced on the first two of these posters, & "Rick Griffin-Photograph-Herb Greene" in facsimile hand-lettering is found at lower right margin, parallel with & just outside outermost image margin near lower right corner of both posters (see images). Herb Greene (b. 1942), the acclaimed American photographer known for his iconic images of the 1960s counterculture, took the Old West-sepia style photographs that are reproduced over all three posters which comprise the members of the Charlatans. The artwork reproduced on the third (second half of "T"ANS) poster was created by Robert Fried (1937-1975), among the great San Francisco artists such as Griffin & Victor Moscoso who were his friends, & "Robert Fried-Photo-Herb Greene" is found at the same location as the other two posters noted above (see image). Credited for "Lights" on all three posters is "The North American Ibis Alchemical Company," a memorably named incarnation of Roger Hillyard, Ben van Meter & their associates. 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 recently the practicing resident of a Zen Buddhist center- all in San Francisco. Van Meter (b. 1941) was also a major light show producer & experimental filmmaker at this time, & still engages in cutting-edge creativity as of this writing. According to the Talmudic scholarship we have consulted regarding these posters (which is similar in its depth to that of our underground comix from this period), all of them are first printings: The first ("CHA") poster's blank verso is tan-colored with a woven texture, indicating a first printing (King, FD-63-OP-1, pg. 128). King writes: "The central image is a photograph by Herb Greene of two members of the band, the Charlatans. They are dressed as Edwardian Era cowboys. Edwardian Era clothing was very popular in the 1960s. This is the first of three posters for appearances by the Charlatans which were intended to form a triptych..." (pg. 128) The second ("RLA(first half)T") poster has no brown outermost left side margin as it does at right, with left side trimmed to "...the left edge black(actually very dark brown to our eyes)border." Also, there is a very short horizontal line from left edge of otherwise blank verso shortly below upper edge, "...a remnant of a printer's bull's eye from the backprint which was for postcard backs which only were printed on originals." These two points indicate that this second poster is a first printing (King, FD-67-OP-1, pg. 135). King writes: "The central image is a photograph by Herb Greene of two members of the Charlatans...This is the second of three Charlatans posters intended to form a triptych." (pg. 135) The third ("(second half) TANS") poster has the same line at verso described above for the second poster, indicating a first printing (King, FD-71-OP-1, pg. 138). King writes: "The central image is a photograph by Herb Greene of Michael Ferguson of the Charlatans...This is the third of the three Charlatans posters intended to form a tryptych." (pg. 138) All three posters that comprise the famous triptych image from the fabled year as it reached its zenith during the "Summer of Love," in their rarest contemporary forms. From the collection of Dion Wright (b. 1937), a most venerable artiste & sculptor who was at the center of the scene that produced this & the many other astounding posters that symbolize a magical time & place (See wright's memoir, Tempus Fugitive, item No. 5008). In our sharp, experienced & triple-visioned estimation, all of these posters are in relatively very fine condition with only very slight rubbing, wear & some tiny bumps, creases at/near edges & corners (printed images on all rectos are bright & substantially mint). These items are too delicate to be rolled & must be shipped flat (in a single package) to assure no damage, therefore extra postage will be required. Very Fine. [Item #5766]

Price: $1,500.00