FillmorePoster.com - poster collecting

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Poster Collecting

t Fillmore Poster, we deal in several different types of posters. A short description of each type is listed below. If you have any questions regarding any of these series, please feel free to call us for more information.

Bill Graham Presents

The Bill Graham Presents or BG series is represented by numbers from BG-0 to 289 and has a few subtypes mixed in for good measure. Bill Graham posters were designed by a number of the most famous of the San Francisco area poster artists of the time. Artists like Wes Wilson, David Singer, Lee Conklin, Randy Tuten, Rick Griffin, and Bonnie MacLean designed a large portion of the poster in this series; the rest were designed by equally talented but less well-known artists.

The early BG posters were all printed on vellum paper and are very difficult to find in top condition today. Vellum was soft, blotter–like paper that tore and stained easily. In addition, the printing quality was sometimes pretty bad. For this reason, most people are a little more forgiving of any defects on the earlier posters.

BG numbers from 0 to 45 are represented by three type of printings — posters, handbills, and postcards. After number 45, no more handbills were printed, only posters and postcards. However, sometimes the postcards with a calendar or “show back” are referred to as handbills. There is a dizzying array of different printings for many of the posters. It is important to know which printing you are getting.

At Fillmore Poster, we guarantee every item to be accurately described and attributed.

Family Dog

The Family Dog was the name of the production company run by Chet Helms. Except for the first few concerts, these were held primarily at the Avalon Ballroom. As with the BG series, these posters were designed by the big names in the artist community. The Family Dog series is numbered from FD-1 to 147 and also includes a number of posters from 1601 West Evans, Denver, CO that carry a designation of FD-D2 and so on.

Like the early BG posters, the first Family Dog posters were also printed on vellum and were subject to damage and fast wear.

The Family Dog numbers from 1 to 41 were printed in two forms — posters and handbills. After number 41, the handbills were replaced with postcards. The early FD handbills are extremely rare and seldom seen. As with the BG series, there are many different printings of the earlier posters.

Neon Rose

A short-lived series designed by Victor Moscoso, the Neon Rose series is one of the most colorful. Posters were made in this series for events other than concerts, but they are generally collected as part of the series. Neon Rose numbers range from NR-0 to 26.

Art of Rock

The “Art of Rock” series (AOR) is so named because the posters and handbills are represented in a book named The Art of Rock by Paul Grushkin. The book is divided into four parts and the posters are numbered according to the section, e.g. Section 1 would be numbered 1.1, 1.122, etc., Section 2 would be numbered 2.2, 2.39, etc.

Many of the posters contained in AOR are also represented by the BG, FD, and NR numbers, but the book also contains hundreds of posters from other venues across the country.

Many of the posters pictured in AOR are excessively rare and anyone who decides to collect by AOR numbers needs to be ready for long waits and high prices. There are also many beautiful and affordable items pictured in AOR. These are the items that you will normally see on our Website.

Collecting

Deciding what to collect can be confusing. Should you try to put together an entire set of BG items? Or should you concentrate on the small images (postcards and handbills) that are much more affordable? Collecting sixties posters can be as individual as you wish. Many people collect only posters with specific performers, and some collect by venue.

We hope that we have given enough information and pictures on our Website to help you with your decision. After you decide what to concentrate on, we can offer a few helpful hints:

1) Always buy the best condition you can find or afford;
2) Second printings often offer much better value than originals. And, they were usually printed within weeks of the show;
3) Signed items are always in demand and offer good value;
4) Keep your expectations realistic. Some posters are so rare that you may not find one if you are in a hurry; and
5) Be very wary of buying in online auctions unless you are buying from a reputable seller.

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