Doors; Allmen Joy; Gingerbred Blu; Griffin, Rick

Original Concert Poster: Doors, Allmen Joy, Gingerbred Blu (December 29-31, 1967)

San Francisco, CA: Family Dog Productions, 1967. First Edition. Single Sheet. A poster (appx. 12&3/4" x 21&1/2") announcing a series of three New Years' Eve concerts headlined by the Doors, along with Allmen Joy & Gingerbred Blu, during December 29-31 at a venue in Denver, Colorado identified by its address of "1601 W(est) Evans (Street)." The legendary American psychedelic artist Rick Griffin (b. Richard Alden Griffin, 1944-1991) created the artwork & graphics reproduced here, & "Rick Griffin" in barely-visible facsimile black hand-lettering is found just outside the outermost lower right side border of illustration image near lower right curved corner at purple background (see magnified image). Credited for "Lights" is the "Diogenes (Lantern Works)," named after the lantern-bearing ancient Greek cynicism-founding philosopher, of which we have not been able to obtain information. According to the Talmudic scholarship (especially hair-splitting in this case) we have consulted regarding this poster, it is a first printing, distinguished by a red (as opposed to black) triangle at upper left corner as background for the Family Dog logo. King, FD-D18-OP-1, pg. 214. King writes: "The central image is a doorway to a spaceship. An alien with lots of arms, no feet and a long tail is emerging through the doorway. In his hand which is extended toward the viewer is a large, white pill bearing the legend "Pay Attention." This concert was the last concert presented in Denver by the Family Dog under the auspices of Chet Helms (b. Chester Leo Helms, 1942-2005, the great San Francisco impresario considered the "father" of the Summer of Love). Throughout the winter and spring of 1968 several people presented concerts at the Denver Family Dog venue claiming to be associated with the Family Dog, however, Chet Helms dba The Family Dog, was not associated with these concerts." (pgs. 215-216) King has entitled this poster "Pay Attention aka Space Man." A superb exemplar of the Griffin psychedelic style at its Height(Haight?), from the end of the year when the "Summer of Love" blossomed, in its rarest contemporary form & with special historic significance (see King quote above). From the collection of Dion Wright (b.1937), an acclaimed artiste & sculptor who was at the center of the scene that produced this & the many other outstanding posters that symbolize a fabled time & (in this case near-) place (see Wright's memoir, Tempus Fugitive, item No. 5916). In our sharp-eyed & experienced estimation, this poster is in relatively fine-verging-on-very-fine condition with only a hint of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at (esp. lower) edges & corners; two tiny pinholes, one at upper left portion of logo near upper left corner, the other at purple background near upper right corner. Other than the above points, the entire printed recto appears completely 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. Fine- Very Fine. [Item #6247]

Price: $1,200.00