Bruce Springsteen 1969 Early New Jersey Concert Poster w/His Band "Earth."...

Description

WHEN "THE BOSS" WAS JUST A TEENAGE MINIMUM-WAGE EMPLOYEE

Bruce Springsteen 1969 Early New Jersey Concert Poster w/His Band "Earth." Well, how's this for a whopper? Talk about combining the worlds of gritty bar-band hard rock, late-60's ethos of hippie psychedelic poster art, and future super-duper-stardom. This is no less than the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, at 19 years old, fronting his new power trio called Earth and performing on Valentine's Day in 1969 in Long Branch, New Jersey.

It's a spectacular piece of which only a couple are known to exist. And what's extra thrilling is that it came directly from the brother of the (late) bass player of Earth. And it comes with a delightful four-page Letter of Provenance written a couple of years ago when the poster finally changed hands to our consignor after half a century with the Earth family. How can you not glimpse this poster, read that letter and not be all a-twitter about the still-touring-this-summer Greatest Show on Earth? (Note the wordplay there.)

Earth was very short-lived but important enough that Bruce named Chapter 15 of his Born to Run autobiography "Earth," and starts the chapter off talking about his short fling as a power trio not long after leaving high school. Just a stunning piece, and one you're not likely to ever see again. Certainly a first for Heritage. Measures 12 7/8" x 18 1/4" and grades to Very Good condition. COA from Heritage Auctions.

More Information: Poster has one thumbtack hole w/attendant halo, located in the top center white margin. The four corners are slightly soft and rounded, with the bottom left one having a little bit of paper bumped up (but not missing). There's been some scuffing to the girl's jet-black hair, and some on the red lettering on the right side. There were a couple of horizontal creases across the poster which have been almost entirely pressed out (which is not considered restoration). A tiny triangle-shaped bit of the top white paper layer is missing (but all layers underneath fine) on the left edge directly over from "In the Heart of"; the verso shows it as a half-inch crease or healed tear. The verso also has a very light silver-dollar-sized stain near the middle of the poster, plus a couple of other smaller blemishes nearby.