Janis Joplin 1969 Concert Poster w/James Cotton Blues Band....

Description

Janis Joplin 1969 Concert Poster w/James Cotton Blues Band. Printed on orange paper with metallic blue-grey inks, this terrific-looking poster from Oklahoma City, OK advertises a concert by Janis Joplin with her not-yet-named Kozmic Blues Band.

A "concert in the round," the poster announces. "Saturday, October 25," in the year of 1969, her only full year of touring solo. "8:00 PM in the Fairgrounds Arena." Ticket prices and some quaint locations are then given... like "Mother's" and "Little Jack's Record Shop." A Johnny Dark Production, with poster art by R. McIntosh and B.G. Vesper.

Janis is depicted in no less than four photographs on the poster, even substituting for the "i" in her first name at the top. And then how can you beat that dreamy gaze into the camera in the poster's biggest photo? Maybe with that amazing shot of her singing at the microphone? Or are they all topped by the famous picture of her with that mischievous smile from the Cheap Thrills album sleeve?

Measures 17 1/2'' x 22 1/8" and grades to Very Good Minus condition. COA from Heritage Auctions.

More Information: Luckily this sublime design wasn't wasted on just one concert... but it was wasted on only two. The same poster was used in Wichita, Kansas the night before... but is just as hard to find as this one.

Our consignor attended this concert 51 years ago, has kept the poster in Oklahoma ever since, and is now consigning it. We've only had this poster in our auctions once before, in July 2019, when it sold for $5,500 in Very Good Plus condition.

Condition details: Poster was dry-mounted down to a backing board when it was framed ages ago. Now out of the frame, but still as tightly adhered to the backing board as a poster can be, so it's probably permanently one unit (although an enterprising soul could still try to remove it). Four horizontal creases across the poster, the first one along the top of the letters in her name. The second one luckily misses Janis' eye, and the third one also fortuitously misses her face all three times (catching just the tip of her chin in big photo). The fourth crease is lost in the artwork just above "With The."

Upper left and lower left corners torn away, leaving the white backing board showing. Has the expected amount of little surface marks and flaws, the biggest stain being down in the extreme lower right under "Band." A couple of lighter ones around the "Oct. 25" date. The corner areas have most of the tack holes, although there's one at the very bottom center, under the "N" in "Cotton," up a quarter inch from the bottom edge.

On the verso, the white backing board has many indents around the perimeter where brads or staples were used to hold it in the frame. A large tape lift in the upper right corner. And finally, that water stain along the top margin. Since the top of the poster on the front has zero signs of any water staining, it's believed the white board already had its water stain before it was used in framing this poster.

Obviously this poster is not a condition play, but most of its copious damage is located around the edges and on the verso (dry-mounted). Since the image area is fairly presentable and clean, other than the horizontal creases, it hung on to a Very Good Minus grading. In a frame with the damage all hidden, we think it would look Very Good indeed.


Heritage Auctions provides as much information as possible but strongly encourages in-person inspection. Condition statements are offered as general guidance only, not as complete representations of fact, and do not constitute a warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted but may be visible in the photos, which are considered part of the condition report. Lots estimated at $1,000 or less are not de-framed for inspection, and we may be unable to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and is not liable for damage to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or artwork that has shifted in the frame. All lots are sold "AS IS" under our Terms & Conditions of Auction.