LONDON.- An extraordinary private archive of rare early Pink Floyd posters has sold for multi-estimate sums to total more than £33,000 at Ewbank’s Auctions on December 13.

Dating from the band’s earliest days in 1966, the year after they formed and when the legendary Syd Barrett was still the frontman, they were led by a single example (above) for Marquee Club concerts on December 22 and 29 that year, which sold for £16,000 against hopes of just £800.

The posters all pre-date the rock group’s first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, which was released in 1967.

In early 1966, Pink Floyd were still largely a rhythm and blues outfit, but as these posters testify, towards the end of the year they had started to move firmly in the direction of psychedelia under the influence of Barrett.

Touring significant but small venues alongside other nascent groups, this period culminated in the band being signed to EMI in 1967 and their subsequent series of hits.

“This collection of posters comprise a fascinating historical archive of one of rock’s most influential bands on the cusp of fame,” said Ewbank’s Auctions specialist Alastair McCrea.

“They demonstrate the issues that concerned them, the zeitgeist of the times and the raw energy of the designs that were typical of the period. This is a rare opportunity to acquire such a unique slice of rock history, as our bidders clearly appreciated.”

The sale also featured a series of lots associated with Freddie Mercury of Queen, including the chrome-plated metal necklace he wore frequently on stage and in private during the height of the band’s success from 1975 to 1979, which sold for £7500.