Five original 1966 Concert Handbills

Item Details

San Francisco, California, Bill Graham Presents, 1966

First as such, excellent condition. See description and photos.

Five early (1966) original Bill Graham Fillmore Auditorium concert handbills designed by the pioneering, celebrated, and influential psychedelic artist Wes Wilson. See images and notes below for condition, which is excellent, but for original(!) masking tape residue on BG-6 & 18, but no tack holes, folds or tears.

The five handbills are:

BG-4: The iconic handbill version of the poster designed for a dance concert held on April 29 and April 30, 1966 at the historic Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, California, featuring Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Lightning Hopkins, and The Jaywalkers. This is an early and quintessential example of Wilson's pioneering psychedelic hand-lettering, where the typography distorts and expands outward to seamlessly fill an organic, bulbous shape mimicking the counterculture aesthetic of the era. Excellent condition, noting only faint creasing on lower right corner with some ink on verso of the same corner, suggesting vestige of the original printing process. 5 9/16 x 8 1/2 inches.

BG-5: A dance concert held on May 6, and May 7, 1966, featuring Jefferson Airplane and The Jay Walkers. An early and quintessential example of Wilson's pioneering psychedelic hand-lettering, where—like BG-4—“the typography distorts and expands outward to seamlessly fill an organic, bulbous shape mimicking the counterculture aesthetic of the era.” As new condition. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches.

BG-6: For Bill Graham Presents The New Generation and The Jaywalkers with The Charlatans. Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA., May 13-14, 1966. Features signature psychedelic warped typography and wavy-line background patterns, printed in red and white on the original promotional handbill format. Excellent condition, but for masking tape residue at top and bottom. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches.

BG-18: A handbill known by its artwork as the “Flame.” The headlining act was The Association (promoting their hit single "Along Comes Mary’), performing July 22 and 23, 1966. The supporting lineup included Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Grass Roots, and Sopwith Camel. It is celebrated as an early, defining masterpiece of psychedelic hand-lettering. The flowing typography is distorted into a blazing silhouette that reveals the details of the concert event. Excellent condition, but for masking tape residue at top. Minor toning. A few tiny dots at lower left corner, possibly from printing process(?) 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches.

BG-29: The concert featured a lineup including the Jefferson Airplane, Muddy Waters, and the Butterfield Blues Band, performing from September 23 to October 2, 1966. The distinctive artwork uses vibrant, flowing psychedelic typography warped around a stylized, dancing nude female figure holding up the words "The Sound”. As new condition. 4 15/16 x 8 13/16 inches.

Price includes USPS Priority postage to addresses in contiguous 48 states. Cost of postage to be added to the invoice for all others.