FD-20 Bo Diddley, Little Walter 1966 Longshoreman's Hall Concert Poster Graded 9.9 Mint. ...

Description

"FIVE MEN" FLOATS ANYONE'S BOAT IN STRAIGHT MINT

FD-20 Bo Diddley, Little Walter 1966 Longshoreman's Hall Concert Poster Graded 9.9 Mint. First-and-only-printing San Francisco concert poster for Bo Diddley, Little Walter and the Sons of Adam playing at Longshoreman's Hall on Friday and Sunday nights, August 5 and 7, 1966. Known as FD-20 in the Family Dog numbered series, this poster was designed by Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley and is nicknamed "Five Men in a Boat." And it's been graded an unsinkable 9.9 Mint by CGC (the Certified Guaranty Company).

Interestingly, this poster was never reprinted by the Family Dog, so anybody who wants a decent print of it has to pay the first-printing price. And only 1,000 were made, so there's barely enough to go around. Add in this poster's masterful 9.9 grade and you've got a real winning rarity. Heritage has sold this poster CGC-graded only twice before, and both were 9.8's; they sold for an average price of $11,500. Will this nine-niner top those?

Measures 14 1/4" x 20". Originally from the KC Murphy Bindweed Press Collection, with Pedigree in the grading strip. COA from Heritage Auctions.

More Information: The two primary images are that of a Ying-Yang symbol giving the concert information, and five older men disproportionally crammed into a tiny boat that never would have floated with that load. And wait - isn't that a sixth little man with his nose on the back edge of the boat? It sure is.

This poster was printed using the split-fountain technique, which was usually reserved for boxing-style posters of the day. As such, the colors morph from the top down from green to blue to red to orange. (When the blue and red mix, some people see rust.)

Diddley & company moved over to the Avalon Ballroom to play this show on the Saturday night, in between the two Longshoreman's dates. That's odd enough, but somehow the poster omitted that important fact. So the FD-20 handbill was redesigned to add the "Aug. 6 Avalon" information to the left of the boat. But appearance-wise, the monochromatic handbill doesn't hold a candle to this split-fountain poster.

Bo Diddley is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame and R&B Hall of Fame member, of course, who originated the famous "Bo Diddley beat" which drove the Rolling Stones nuts as teenagers. Harmonica player, Chess Records labelmate and fellow Rock Hall and Blues Hall member Little Walter appeared with Bo on Sunday night only, a pretty heavy R&B night well-placed in the gritty Longshoreman's Hall instead of the psychedelic Avalon. On both nights, the Sunset Strip/L.A. garage band Sons of Adam opened up.


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