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Concert poster
1967 concert poster (cataloged as BG-74) for a series of historic performances by Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead in Toronto. It is widely considered one of the rarest and most valuable posters in the entire Bill Graham Fillmore series.
Poster Significance and History
The Event: The shows took place from July 31 to August 5, 1967, at the O'Keefe Centre (now Meridian Hall) in Toronto, Canada. It was part of Bill Graham's vision to bring the "San Francisco Scene" to other major cities.
The Artist: The poster was designed by James H. Gardner, utilizing photographs taken by Herb Greene. This is notably the only poster Gardner designed for the Bill Graham series.
The Legend of Rarity: There is a long-standing, though unconfirmed, story that the original shipment of posters was confiscated and destroyed by Canadian Customs at the border because they were advertising materials not printed in Canada. This perceived scarcity has made the original BG-74 a "holy grail" for collectors.
Identifying Original vs. Reproductions
Due to its rarity, many reprints and reproductions exist. Key identifiers for authentic editions include:
First Printing (Original): Measures approximately 14" x 20.5". These were printed before the concert on either white index stock (Type 1) or thicker poster board (Type 2).
Second Printing (2006): Measures 15 3/8" x 22 3/8" and includes a "Wolfgang's Vault" notation in the lower right margin.
Third Printing (2006): Larger at 22 3/8" x 32 1/2" with a glossy finish and the "Wolfgang's Vault" notation. |
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