Original 1st printing 14 x 22" concert poster for Texas folk-blues legend Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins appearing with the P.H. Phactor Jug Band at the Matrix in San Francisco, CA, from 4/19-24/1966.

 

 Designer unknown (this was a "tour blank" that was used for a number of 1965-66 Bay Area engagements), image (an earlier date with Jefferson Airplane) is featured in the Art of Rock book on page 161 (plate 2.104).

 

 Medium-thick flat index stock poster is in decent (B/B- to B-) condition; there are a series of surface issues (a tape pull on the "ht" of "Lightning", a large splatter stain on the "in" of "Hopkins", a semi-flattened center crease, a series of s,mall stains, scrapes, a tape stain in the top center margin, "Oracle" is written in blue ballpoint pen in the top center/left margin (more on that below), plus a set of tack holes, a series of edge dings, tiny margin creases, a couple of pencil scratches, thin scrapes/scratches and a 2-3" candle wax stain in the lower left corner, a 1/2" tear in the bottom center margin, a few tape shadows here and there... definitely a bit on the used side, BUT...

 

Here's where it gets interesting... the reverse (which shares a number of the same conditional issues) has a VERY COOL (and very nicely rendered- whoever the artist is has a pretty tight lettering style) HAND-DRAWN (in assorted colored markers) sign announcing an appeal (no date, presumably sometime in 1967) for volunteers to help with an un-named cause at the Oracle office in the back of the Print Mint (poster store) on Haight Street. The sign reads; 

 

"HELP- the Oracle Needs You Today 3PM on for the Loving Insertion, Back of Print Mint 1542 Haight"

 

 An absolutely FASCINATING and MEGA-COOL Haight-Ashbury artifact that is without a doubt one of the most unique items I have come across. One of a kind!