Every poster that Psychedelic Art Exchange offers is independently authenticated and graded by CGC, if eligible, before sale or auction. This grading company has created a buzz in the collectibles marketplace with the news of increased activity and record-setting concert poster prices.

 

 This Jefferson Airplane/Jimi Hendrix (BG-69) Fillmore Concert Postcard CGC graded 9.8 sold for a record $357 in our auction earlier this year!

 

CGC has graded billions of dollars worth of rare coins, comic books, and paper money. Their services are so ubiquitous that no serious auctions are held for the collectibles mentioned above without their prior grading!  

Now that CGC is grading more and more vintage concert posters, Psychedelic Art Exchange has seen a massive influx of new collectors entering this market. These collectors are ready to enter this niche thanks to the trust and familiarity around CGC's independent third-party authentication and grading service.

After all, why would a buyer take a seller's word for it on a concert poster's condition, especially when small differences can mean vast differences in value?

 

This beautiful Monterey International Pop Festival Concert poster CGC graded 9.6 sold for a record $4612 in our auction 2/17.

 

For collectors of vintage concert posters, these third-party authentication service advantages go way beyond just leveling the playing field between buyers and sellers.

First, vintage concert posters are separated into two distinct categories: original printings and reprints. Original printings are posters produced and distributed before the concert. Reprints are posters produced and distributed after the concert.

The differences in value between original printings and reprints can be huge, but determining the differences between the two can be minuscule.

CGC grading solves this problem by clearing attributing the poster to what it is, original or reprint. This service allows new collectors to acquire these beautiful pieces of art with confidence, knowing that they are getting the quality that they pay for.

Secondly, because of the age of vintage concert posters, there is a matter of restoration. In every collectibles market, a premium is placed on originality. Many vintage concert posters have been expertly restored to appear as mint condition pieces. These restorations can be hard for the beginning collector to detect. Here is where CGC's service shines again.

Their team of authenticators and graders can detect these expert levels of restoration. From fixed tears to filled in pinholes, their team is able to spot the restorations and grade the posters accordingly.

 

 

This beautiful Doors Concert postcard (FD-D-18) CGC graded 9.8 sold for a record $241 in our recent auction.

 

The bottom line is that CGC grading has broken down the barriers that have prevented new collectors from entering this exciting field. It has allowed new collectors to confidently enter this marketplace knowing they have the backing of a company like CGC.

These new collectors already understand how quality and rarity affects value. They acknowledge these posters are historically significant. They know these posters were issued in the hundreds or a few thousand, compared to the millions of coins, comic books, and baseball cards that are regularly produced. They understand the fragility of concert poster paper and how a tiny percentage of the originals issued still survived 50 years after they were released. They know the premiums that the very best quality pieces command, and how incredibly small they are compared to other collectibles. They intimately understand how to research and buy collectibles over the internet and through auctions.

Through CGC grading, these new collectors can use their skills to participate in what many are calling the most exciting collectibles opportunity in the world today. They understand they can acquire an extensive, world-class collection, for a fraction of just one major rarity in other collectible markets.

This influx of new collectors is now eagerly snapping up whatever CGC graded vintage concert posters and handbills they can find. This growing demand is overwhelming the already limited supply, and that's why prices are steadily moving up.

Stay tuned for future blog posts that will examine which vintage concert posters these new collectors are targeting for acquisition.

If you have vintage concert posters or handbills that you'd like submitted for CGC grading, we can take care of everything for you.

 

PAE Graded Concert Posters

Posters currently ineligible for CGC grading will be accompanied by PAE Certification of Authenticity and Grade and backed by the strongest guarantee available anywhere.

Official Grading Standards of Psychedelic Art Exchange

 

Mint Posters

• Mint Poster Definition “ (MT90-100) A Mint poster is an unused, unrestored poster that has all paper fully intact with no signs of damage. A mint poster cannot have ANY of the following signs of damage: tapes pulls, pin holes, tears, nicks, folds or ink cracking. A Mint poster may exhibit up to three minor handling and printing flaws.Mint posters are graded according to the number of minor flaws they exhibit from the printing process as well as minor flaws that occur after the printing process as a result of normal handling and storage.Permitted printing flaws include “grab marks” from the printing press, centering, ink disturbances, registration and toning and other general paper or printing flaws. Permitted light handling flaws include minor corner bumps (no more than one inch when measured from corner to crease, with no white showing through) and light waviness of the paper that often occurs during routine handling and storage.

• Mint 100 (MT100) A poster that is basically perfect, no real flaws of any kind.

• Mint 97 (MT-97) A poster that exhibits one minor permitted flaw in the Mint category.

• Mint 95 (MT-95) A poster that exhibits one or two permitted flaws in the Mint category.

• Mint 93 (MT-93) A poster that exhibits two or three permitted flaws in the Mint category.

• Almost Mint “ (AMT89) Almost Mint posters will be free from all light damage but will exhibit too many instances of handling and printing flaws to still be considered Mint. Almost Mint posters will contain more than three of the flaws permitted in the Mint poster category, while exhibiting none of the light damage that is acceptable in the Near Mint category.

 

Near Mint Posters

• Near Mint Definition – (NMT-80-89) Near Mint posters at first glance will exhibit the same general appearance and eye appeal of Mint posters. Upon closer inspection, a Near Mint poster will exhibit up to three instances of light damage such as pin or staple holes, tape pulls, a tiny nick or tear (less than .5 inch) or a rounded corner or fold that are not acceptable in the Mint Poster category. A single pin hole or tape pull is counted as one instance of light damage while two or more tape pulls or pin holes are counted as two instances of light damage.

• Near Mint 87 – (NMT87) A poster that exhibits one instance of light damage that is not acceptable in the Mint category.

• Near Mint 85 – (NMT85) A poster that exhibits one or two flaws. Including light damage that is not acceptable in the Mint category.

• Near Mint 83 – (NMT83) A poster that exhibits two or three flaws including light damage that is not acceptable in the Mint category.

• Almost Near Mint 79 (ANMT79) Almost Near Mint posters will be free from all normal damage but will exhibit too many instances of light damage to still be considered Near Mint. Almost Near Mint posters will exhibit more than three of the flaws acceptable in the Near Mint poster category, while exhibiting none of the normal damage that is permitted in the Excellent category.

 

Excellent Posters

• Excellent Definition – (EX-70-79) Excellent posters will exhibit a very pleasing overall appearance. Upon closer inspection, an Excellent poster will exhibit up to three flaws including normal damage that is more severe than what is acceptable in the Near Mint category. Normal damage includes tears over .5 inches in length, heavy crunching or multiple folds of the poster and minor paper loss or holes.

• Excellent 77- (EX77) A poster that exhibits one instance of normal damage not acceptable in the Near Mint category.Excellent 75 – (EX75) A poster that exhibits one or two flaws including normal damage that is not permitted in the Near Mint category.

• Excellent 73 – (EX73) A poster that exhibits two or three flaws including normal damage that is not permitted in the Near Mint category.

 

Fine Posters

• Extra Fine 65 – (XF-65) A poster that exhibits four instances of normal and light damage.

• Extra Fine 60 – (XF-60) A poster that exhibits five instances of normal and light damage.

• Very Fine 55- (VF-55) A poster that exhibits six instances of normal and light damage.

• Very Fine 50 – (VF-50) A poster that exhibits seven instances of normal and light damage.

• Fine 45 – (F-45) A poster that exhibits eight instances of normal and light damage.

• Fine 40 – (F-40) A poster that exhibits nine instances of normal and light damage.

 

Good — Poor Posters

• Very Good 30 – (VG30) A poster that exhibits major damage such as a large tear or hole, or other glaring defect.

• Good 20 – (G-20) A poster that exhibits multiple instances of major damage such as a large tears or holes or other glaring defects.

• Poor 10 – (P-10) A Poster that is heavily damaged and extensively worn. Will exhibit major tears, holes, creases and missing paper.