HOT VISUAL FEAST!
Updated - November 22, 2000


Both the Yellow and Green versions of the poster in question, plus two progressive prints.



"Wilderness Conference Letter"

Dear Professor,
I'd appreciate the benefit of your expertise... As you know, there is some controversy over which version of the Sierra Club Wilderness Conference poster is the first printing. I'd appreciate your views on the following collection of information, as well as any light you can shed on the subject. I should mention that I own one of the posters but honestly have no vested interest in the outcome.

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the "PROF Replys

Well ya know , you have totally hit the jackpot when it comes to the "Bottom Line" insight on the "Wilderness Conference" poster! As I posess not only a copy of each but progressives as well as the original ""PLATE"" o what has become (Finally) known as the FIRST PRINTING of this fabulous poster. Keeping in mind, that this piece isn't even for a concert!

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Here's what I think,... I know: Stanley Mouse says the grey/silver background version is the first printing, but aside from his recollection (which may be selective, as he has said he hates the yellow version), there is no apparent reason to believe that the grey version is the first printing.

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"Prof" Replys
Well I can certainly say to you that Stan's memory IS selective at times and ya just can't trust his opinion as fact all the time! However in this paticular case he is 100% correct. And I can say that I am 99.9% sure of myself! I have discussed this issue with the best of 'em (Jacaber, Eric King, plus several other major players) and at conversations end I usually am agreed with, after going over the FACTS one by one!

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The yellow background version by Bindweed is identified as the first by the Sierra Club, I am told, but I have no direct testimony to that.

"Prof says" NOT!!
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Now it gets alittle complicated. Berkeley Bonaparte, on p. 84 of AOR, claim to have done something on a Mouse Sierra Club poster and they list this poster in a 1967 catalog in a list of mostly known reprints.

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the "Prof" says
Who really cares what Berkeley Bonaparte thinks on this subject, they NEVER had anything to do with the printing of this piece in the first place!

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They must be refering to the grey version, but, it has no printer's marking, which would be uncharacteristic of Bonaparte products. And finally, Bonaparte says that they started as a mailorder business around 1-1-67 and that their first non-political poster was Griffin's "In God We Trust". The Wilderness Conference was in early April of '67. So the question is...do you know exactly when the Griffin piece was done? Knowing that date could (underline could) resolve the issue once and for all. Or perhaps you know something else that will help. My own view is that it is unlikely that the grey, or Bonaparte, version is the first printing. I don't think they would have gotten the job as a venture that had just started in business...but I can't conclusively demonstrate it. Please let me know your views.

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The story as I percieve it to be is based intirely on when and what was in the stash of over 70 plates that were aquired by me aprox. four years ago! Including the plates to FD#s26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, Human Be In by Mouse, Edwardian Ball, Wilderness Conference. (only to name afew.......Phew!) ALL of which were in the same batch as well as being all first printings.

Secondly, when it came time to reprint the poster a desision was made by Bindweed Press to get their acknowledgement for the piece, being that they missed the boat the first time around. So they added their name at the bottom. Now if they had put it on in the first place, they sure as hell wouldn't have removed it the second time around!

The last fact to make this case is: "CONTRAST".......... If you look at the green/gray/silver (whatever) poster, it is not as easily seen as the reprint in yellow. This decision was made after-the-fact in order to see it better. Whether or not you like it better. It would have NEVER been the oppisite, Yellow....... then less contrast to Green. There you have it! Now I feel very confident in my insight to this question to which was the first printing and invite anyone with evedence to the contrary.

Here is a tasty visual treat, The Original Plate, and a hand painted poster by one of the artists of the poster, Stanley Mouse.


"BE AWARE"

This poster definitely delivers the message!! It has been considered by many to be Wes Wilson's first widely aclaimed and recognized pieces. Having been done in 1964, you see why it might have created quite a stir! The "barbed wire" frame was my idea. each barb on the chrome wire, has been individually painted metalic crimson red. There are times that I think posters can make afar greater impact when dressed properly. I believe what we have here is an example of: "Art Inside of Art" ! ..... If I do say so myself!!! This piece will be offered at the Summer of Love benefit auction. Note: It was signed by Wes at the first Rock Art Expo back in 1992 in lower right corner.




Family Dog # 9
"HUPMOBILE 8" ARTWORK What a rare treat to be able to gaze upon this treasure! Courtesy of one of the top men in this field, ie. JACABER, of Psychedelic Solutions, New York City. Jay was kind enough to bring this artwork all the way out from the east coast to the west coast in order to share it's awesomeness with the Professor! For this I certainly tip him my Top Hat!! Note at the bottom it's signed by both Wes Wilson & Chet Helms.


Here is a really true oddity! A handbill for the Avalon Ballroom from 1947! It came to Posterville a few years back from a fellow whose mother used to attend the dances way back then. Of course, the Family Dog wasn't even howl'in back then. If you look at the picture of the ballroom, way in the back, there he is! Why it's the Professor in an previous life!


"GOUCHO MARX"

Yet another example of what a frame can do for a poster! The Professor put this piece together for the April 1996 Maritime Hall poster, by artist Jim Phillips. Every dog has it's day, and looks as if the "Goucho Dog" won't ever go hungry......not in this frame anyway!




"INCREDIBLE" The Beatles-Yesterday and Today

1966 Capital Records promotional poster featuring the controversial "BUTCHER" cover which was quickly withdrawn from distribution. The album of course did not have the word incredible above the picture. There was a reprint done of this image in a black and cream sepiatone sort of color. Also there was a color reprint, however it is fairly easy to tell the difference between the two as the original has the same rough visual texture as the album cover. It looks sort of like a burlap sort of cloth. All and all I've looked through several so-called Beatles collectables books and it seems that everyone has something different to say about it. I have had my own personal copy of this promo poster for over 25 years and know for sure that what you see is truly authentic. There are three that I know of that are for sale, that I believe to be real. The asking price is three hundred and fifty dollars each, which I think is a bargain!!! So any of you Beatles collectors out there that would like to take advantage of this opportunity, let the Prof know so I can secure one for you.

As an added little feature I have also pictured this unusual record that I picked up at the recent BeatleFest that was held here in the Bay Area in early December. I just couldn't resist this one. I have framed it for display in a proper and fitting manner! Tre-cool. It was originally issued at the fourth Annual Beatle Convention in Chicago, on August 8th & 9th 1980. I would like to know approx. how many were made? Anyone out there have a clue, please let me know. Thanks...yes it plays.


Posterville has just two of these great PHISH posters left in stock!









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