FD-7 Big Brother, Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder "Euphoria" Avalon Ballroom OP-1 Poster Signed by Wes Wilson....

Description

THE RAREST POSTER IN THE ENTIRE BG & FD UNIVERSE

FD-7 Big Brother, Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder "Euphoria" Avalon Ballroom OP-1 Poster Signed by Wes Wilson. First-printing San Francisco concert poster for The Daily Flash, The Rising Sons (with Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal), Big Brother & The Holding Company (without Janis Joplin yet) and the Charlatans playing at the Avalon Ballroom on Friday and Saturday nights, May 6 & 7, 1966. Designed by Wes Wilson and known as FD-7 in the Family Dog numbered series, this poster has been signed by the late Mr. Wilson down in the lower right corner.

This is the OP-1 version of the poster that was printed in straight B&W. Like FD-1 before it, some members of the Family Dog took it upon themselves to hand-color portions of the poster before posting them up. We have no way of saying for sure that was the case here, but it certainly has the feel of that. Once poster collecting became even a semi-serious hobby decades ago, nobody in their right mind would've dared coloring in one of these, the general thinking goes.

How scarce is this poster? No less than Eric King, author of the poster guide which everyone uses, has stated that it's the #1 rarest poster in the entire run of Bill Graham and Family Dog posters... that's right, rarer even than the first 2-3 posters in each series. Poster artist Wilson once told sources that a total of 250 posters were printed. How many could still exist today? The most enlightened sources in the hobby put that figure at probably a couple dozen. The winner of this poster is going to be one lucky collector indeed. Measures 14" x 20" and grades to repaired Very Good Plus condition. From the David Swartz Concert Poster Collection. COA from Heritage Auctions.

More Information: A little background. FD-7 is a poster that many collectors need for a complete Family Dog run, but many lack. It didn't feature a major band (at least prominently), the shows were canceled, and it was not so much a psychedelic design as it was a cartoon, and about half of them were done in plain black & white, so the poster was not saved much.


The Daily Flash hailed from Seattle and shared a manager with Buffalo Springfield, but never broke through to any commercial success. The Rising Sons were L.A.-based contemporaries of the Byrds, and featured future solo stars Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder. But they quickly broke up, lacking a cohesive vision. Big Brother & the Holding Company were still six weeks shy of enlisting Janis Joplin as a singer that would change the world. And the Charlatans are always a welcome presence on any San Francisco concert piece, like a comfortable old shoe.

Condition details: Chameleon Restoration addressed a few edge and corner issues, mending pinholes, eradicating surface blemishes and greatly reducing any creasing it might have had. The result is a highly satisfying piece with little or no evidence of past damage. Do notice that the hand-colored red on the front shows prominently on the back as well. General toning to the white paper throughout.


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.