Beatles manager Brian Epstein commissioned Richard Avedon to photograph the band and design a set of posters that would visually capture the new psychedelic direction of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour. Following the shoot at a penthouse in Thompson House, 200 Gray's Inn Road, London on 11th August 1967, Avedon distorted four of the polarised images with day-glo overlays and symbolic attributes. The photographs were first published in the 9th January 1968 edition of the US magazine Look, and the posters distributed simultaneously by Look magazine in the US, the Daily Express in the UK and Stern Magazine in Europe, together with a black and white banner poster of the band which became known as the Mount Rushmore poster. With a pull out order form which described the four posters as Flame Bright John, Flower Power Paul, Mystic George and Dove Loving Ringo, fans could send away for the set for 30 shillings. The Stern set were also sold at newstands, rolled and wrapped in plastic. The posters have become seminal images of the late 1960's, transcending the world of music memorabilia and appealing to collectors of art and design alike. Although originally printed in a large open edition, few survive in unused condition. An example of the Stern set is held in the collection of the V&A Museum, London, and another set sold at Heritage Auctions in 2015 for $4,000.

Condition

Excellent (A-)

Negligible handling dings to four portrait posters. Edge wear and nicks to banner poster, no larger than ¼in. Image and colours excellent.