SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- Leading
Bonhams Visions of Garcia auction, May 8 in San Francisco, and simulcast in New York, was the $62,500 sale of a Jerry Garcia stage-played, acoustic Takamine guitar, ca. 1985 (est. $50,000-100,000). The guitar was one of many successful sales of the auction, which was well-attended by Grateful Dead fans and collectors who bid in hopes of owning one-of-a-kind memorabilia and works by Jerry Garcia.
Many bidders at the auction took great interest in a bright, wall-sized Grateful Dead "Skull and Roses" banner from the Grateful Dead movie, used by Bill Graham at Winterland, which sold very well, bringing $31,250 (est. 25,000-35,000). Another Grateful Dead banner, featuring the "Steal Your Face" logo, from the Collection of Rock Scully, also sold well, bringing $8,750 and exceeding its pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3,000.
Lots that contributed to the sound of the Grateful Dead were also successful in the sale, such as Billy Kreutzmann's 5-piece Sonor drum set and one drum case, used while playing with the Grateful Dead, that brought $12,500 (est. $10,000-15,000) and two Jerry Garcia monitor speaker cabinets from the line array of Grateful Dead sound reinforcement system known as the "Wall of Sound," 1972-74, which also sold for $12,500 (est. $10,000-15,000).
Several items in the auction that were passed down from Jerry Garcia to members of his family also brought great results. Among them were Jerry Garcia's American Beauty Platinum album, given by Jerry to his daughter, Annabelle., ca. 1970, which sold for $12,500 (est. $10,000-15,000) and a Jerry Garcia lithograph, "Grisman and Garcia," which Garcia gifted to his brother and sister-in-law, Clifford "Tiff" Garcia and Gayle Garcia, that took in $9,750 (est. $8,000-12,000).
Also of note with successful results were a set of Jerry Garcia handwritten lesson plans, which sold for $8,750 (est. $8,000-12,000) and two wearable items: a circular .9999 gold and enamel "Steal Your Face" pendant, made by Owsley "Bear" Stanley, ca. 1979, which brought $9,750 (est. $7,500-10,000) and a pair of Jerry Garcia owned and worn sunglass, with a framed photograph taken by Nora Sage at the Warfield, which realized $9,375 (est. $8,000-12,000).