Every so often, something catches your eye that feels more like a piece of living history than just another item for sale. This month, Art of Rock is offering a handful of those moments all at once — a dedicated auction of top tier original 1960s concert posters, handbills, and counterculture artifacts. If you'd like to jump in and browse quickly, you can enter here!
For your convenience, all items are graded and authenticated by CGC. Every lot starts at $1 with no reserve. And with just 11 elite lots up for bidding, the whole thing feels thoughtfully curated, not overstuffed. You may not believe me now, but each item in this auction is a must-have piece.
If you're a GoCollect reader, there's an added bonus in it for you: $50 free to use in the auction, just for being part of the community. (More on that below.)
First we'd like to offer you a finer treat. Here, for your viewing and procuring pleasure, are just a few of the highlights — one or two you may never see again in your lifetime:
“The Seed” – The First Psychedelic Concert Poster Ever Made
This one's not just early — it's actually the beginning. Created in 1965 for The Charlatans at the Red Dog Saloon, “The Seed” is widely considered the first true psychedelic concert poster. It lit the fuse on the entire San Francisco poster movement. It's hard to overstate how important this piece is — and how much of a ghost it has become.
Velvet Underground & Andy Warhol – May 1966
This is one of those posters that collectors dream about — Warhol’s design tied to the Velvet Underground’s West Coast shows. It’s striking, surreal, and nearly impossible to find in this condition. This isn’t just music history — it’s art history too.
Jimi Hendrix “Flying Eyeball” – Rick Griffin, 1968
One of the most famous images in the entire genre. Griffin’s Flying Eyeball design has become synonymous with the psychedelic era. In 2023, a CGC 9.8 specimen sold for $175,000. This one's not that same copy — but it's still a high-grade, remarkable version of a poster that rarely surfaces.
Orange Sunshine LSD Distribution Card – Signed by Tim Scully
A strange and very rare bit of counterculture history. This isn’t a concert poster, but it is directly tied to the underground movement that powered a lot of the art, music, and ideas from that era. A genuine LSD delivery card created for the distribution of free LSD by the Brotherhood of Eternal Love. Signed by Tim Scully — an American computer engineer who was instrumental in the manufacture and spread of Orange Sunshine — this is a museum-level artifact.
“Human Be-In” – 1967, Golden Gate Park
Not a concert in the traditional sense — more of a cultural gathering that brought thousands to Golden Gate Park and helped define the "Summer of Love." The handbill from this event is as important to 1960s history as any album cover or protest flyer.
Led Zeppelin & Jethro Tull in Santa Barbara - 1969
It's August, 1969, and Led Zeppelin is on their second year of international touring. Only now, they are headlining this event with Jethro Tull during a time when the UK is absolutely taking over the American scene. By the looks of this artwork, perhaps it's more accurate if we say 'complementing it'. This poster bends the mind. The condition it remains in bends the rules. There are no sales in this top grade, and only one other in existence.
How to Use the $50
I'm going to assume that if you’re reading this, you probably already track your collectible values with GoCollect. Maybe you're just getting into concert poster collecting, or perhaps you have no experience collecting anything other than comics. Either way, this auction is a great entry point to get an incredible piece of music history — and every GoCollect reader gets a free $50 to use toward any lot in the auction. Just use the code: FREE$50 at checkout. That’s it.
There are some fabulous opportunities to grab something rare and authentic here, without worrying too much about the starting price. I would recommend you also spend a little time in our Concert Poster Price Guide to assist you with making the most educated moves in this very high-profile auction event. GoCollect has historic sales info on nearly every piece being offered by the Art of Rock over the next few weeks.
If you've been curious about vintage poster collecting — or just want to own a piece of rock & roll history — this auction’s worth a look. It’s not every day you get a shot at posters that hung on the walls of venues before Hendrix, Warhol, or Page & Plant hit the stage.
And with $50 to get started, this may help your next (or first!) poster feel more accessible than ever!
Head over to the Art of Rock now and start doing your research.
