The significance and importance of the poster pr inting plate has been
grossly overlooked and virtually undiscovered by most collectors and poster
enthusiasts. Next to the original artwork of any one given piece, the
plate is probably the next rarest item. Poster printing plates are
typically made from aluminum. The plate is the first positive image taken
from the original artwork. They may be considered the mother to
every poster. Each poster is a baby printed off them. They are
truly difficult to come by also because many of them were recycled for
their aluminum value. Consequently very few old plates have survived!
Stanley Mouse signing the Wilderness Conference poster plate.
Family Dog #29This frame contains the complete set of original printing plates as well as the individual progressive prints to Family Dog number 29, "Girl with Green Hair" or "Job Lady." The poster featured Jim Kweskin Jug Band and Big Brother & the Holding Company at the Avalon Ballroom on October 7-8, 1966. The artists were Stanley M ouse and Alton Kelly. The frame shows part of the extensive printing process of a four color poster. This piece was included in the Posterville mini-museum of rock memorabilia displayed at the recent Music Collectors' Expo held at the San Mateo Expo Center last October 18-20, 1996. It's not often one has the opportunity to see such a large scale display of poster progressives along with the plates that produced them. Each individual one of the four plates represents a differe nt color on the finished poster. To prepare this framed "labor of love," the Professor worked many hours restoring each one of the plates. The first step was to straighten and flatten out the plate in order to make the rest of the process possible. Nex t excessive thirty year old ink was removed without harming the photographic etch on the plate that made it possible to ink and print originally. The following step involved reinking the areas where the original ink was removed. This was probably the most tedious part of the restoration process. It was done with a very small brush (with about six hairs!) using ink properly prepared for a close match to the original colors. Dealing with the corrosion that attacks the surface of the aluminum the image is on can also be challenging. The corrosion eats away at the metal leaving part of the image damaged and difficult to see.
Nevertheless I find this work to be very important and
necessary despite all the chemicals and mess in order for future
generations to be able to see what was and still is the "Art of the
Times." The icing on the cake was Stanley Mouse hand painted a poster
shown here to compliment this labor of love!
FAMILY DOG #39 Handbill PlatesThese are the blue and red plates to this handbill. The third and forth plates not shown here are the black and yellow plates. (the yellow, is on a variation printing of the handbill only)
THE GRATEFUL DEAD FAN CLUBPRINTERS PLATE W/ PROGRESSIVE PRINT
Here is the delight of delights for all of the real heavy duty true to heart "Dead Heads." I guess this could be classified as an icon. Shown here is the original plate to the Fan Club poster. It is the gold plate. Recall that each color on any poster has it's own printing plate. Next to the plate is the progressive print without the dark blue printing applied yet. It has however gone through the press twice at this point as you can see by the picture of the "Boys" in the middle.
I took the
opportunity to also show in the picture the handbill plate of the photo
part of the poster so you could get the idea of what the complete package
would look like if it were all together. At this time the Professor is
entertaining the prospects of a new home for this bit of Grateful Dead
treasure. There are also historical aspects of this rare package. Anyone
interested in obtaining it for their own personal archive may contact the
"Prof" in order to discuss this one time opportunity further.
This is the real thing so lets not spin our wheels. Sincere inquiries only
please. Thanks!
The MOTHERS OF INVENTION Old Fillmore # 27 artist was John Meyers. This is the only Fillmore poster that did not take place at the Fillmore! The event was redirected to the Scottish Rites Temple out of respect for the religious services being held in the temple next door. ( Bill Graham was a God Fearing man! )
Here is one of the hard to find posters for the Fillmore series .....Old Fillmore # 8 Andy Warhol with the Velve t Underground. If you think the poster is difficult to come by, consider the ORIGINAL PLATE!! Signed in the lower right corner by the artist...Wes Wilson. This plate has never been offered for sale, however serious inquires could be discussed! All you need do is to push that little ole EMAIL button just below.
This is a very unique
p late. In fact, I don't think that I've ever run across a handbill printed off of it. SKIP JAMES at the Jabberwalk in Berkekey, California, 1966. This was his first Bay Area appearance. Although he passed away at a early age, he was bill ed as one of the most brilliant and intriguing BLUESMAN ever recorded. This is one of the only early BLUES plates that presently is in the Posterville archives!
This has always been one of my favorite handbill plates. The Tribute to J EDGAR HOOVER at California Hall in Feb of 1967. The bill included the MOJO MEN & BLUE CHEER not forgetting the JOOK SAVAGES and the Congress of Wonders which were an early comedy trio that did their thing between sets. They always were very entertaining. This plate is in pristine condition! The poster plate also resides here in the Posterville archives.
Send email to me now at theProf@ProfessorPoster.com Input Welcome. Comments Desired!
