Woodstock Festival 1969 Original Location Poster from Wallkill, NY (AOR-3.2). ...

Description

Woodstock Festival 1969 Original Location Poster from Wallkill, NY (AOR-3.2). An original first-printing poster from the summer of 1969 for the famous Woodstock three-day music festival in Wallkill, New York before it was moved 45 miles west to Bethel (White Lake). This beautiful poster was created by the esteemed David Byrd, and is much more intricate and sophisticated than the red poster which was eventually used for the final location. None of the musicians are given, but the luscious artwork more closely matched the "Music & Art Fair" theme of the festival.

It's interesting to note how Byrd's original design went completely for the "art fair" ethos of the Woodstock festival, whereas Arnold Skolnick's red replacement poster emphasized the music by listing all the bands and musicians. Byrd used just 16 words but gorgeous stained-glass-window artwork to get his message across; Skolnick used hundreds of words and simple, childlike artwork in his design. They both are very compelling in their own way, and it's nice that collectors can line up behind whichever one they prefer.

One could say that it's a shame Byrd's version - and vision - never got "used," but his creation has lived on strongly thanks to music, poster and art collectors coveting it decades later, books reproducing it, and exhibitions of all kinds displaying it.

Made on glossy cardstock, this poster measures 13 1/2" x 22 3/8" and grades to Good condition. There's a small diagonal corner crease in the upper left which doesn't touch the black corner of artwork. A couple of other very minor surface handling creases. The main issue is the verso has three big lines of pen writing obliterated by a black marker. The indenting of the original ballpoint pen lettering is detectable in the far right portion of the venue box when the poster is tilted at an angle to the light, but not when looking straight-on, at all. But that verso writing should allow someone to pick up this key psychedelic poster at a bargain price compared to what it normally sells for; we've sold one graded 9.4 before for $4,500. COA from Heritage Auctions.

Literature: See Grushkin, Paul, The Art of Rock: Posters from Presley to Punk, Abbeville Press, New York, 1987, p.257 (illus.).

Heritage Auctions provides detailed information when available but strongly encourages in-person inspection. Condition statements and photographs are offered as general guidance only, not as complete representations of facts, and do not constitute a warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Framed artworks are not examined outside their frames, and additional details from Heritage may be unavailable; therefore, the condition of unexamined works is not guaranteed. Heritage is not responsible for damage to frames, glazing, original boxes, display materials, or for works that have shifted within the frame. All lots are sold "AS IS" in accordance with our Terms & Conditions of Auction.