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Ultra Rare Artist Autographs Highlight These Classic Rock Collages

Posted by James Duncan on

We've just listed three exciting collages sure to appeal to classic rock collectors featuring signatures from all the members of Buffalo Springfield, Iron Butterfly, and Led Zeppelin.

These collages are particularly rare since they include either autographs of band members who are no longer with us, such as Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, or autographs that are rarely seen together, such as Neil Young and Stephen Stills signatures written during their Buffalo Springfield origins.

The Stephen Stills-penned top ten single "For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's That Sound)" set Buffalo Springfield on a path of success for the group and also set the stage for the formation of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young after Buffalo Springfield broke up in 1968.

The collage, which features a 1967 record contract signed by the full band, includes autographs of Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Richie Furay, and the late Dewey Martin -- in his real name, Walter Dwayne Midkiff (1940-2009) -- and Bruce Palmer (1946-2004). It also includes a matted in copy of the group's 1967 issue debut LP, making this framed presentation a great piece of history that can be hung on one's wall.

The autographs have been authenticated by Roger Epperson, who is one of the world's most respected and foremost experts on music artist autographs, and his Letter of Authenticity is included with the item.

Buffalo Springfield 1967 autographs collage

 Buffalo Springfield Neil Young Stephen Stills autographs

You can see more details and images of this terrific Buffalo Springfield collage here. Also check out this Buffalo Springfield RIAA record award for their Retrospective album.

Iron Butterfly set the rock world alight with their 1968 classic "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". While becoming a serious display of great musicianship for the group when they performed it live, the origins of the tune have a humorous undertone.

As written by Dave Thompson in the liner notes for the 1967 album Iron Butterfly: Live at the Galaxy 1967, vocalist/organist Doug Ingle wrote the song while drinking an entire gallon of "Red Mountain" wine. Then when the drunken Ingle played the song for drummer Ron Bushy, who was writing down the lyrics, Ingle was slurring his words and what he was singing as (he thought) "in the Garden of Eden" was interpreted by Bushy as "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".

The collage features a matted in 45 copy of that track along with a contract rider signed by all the members of the group's 1966-67 line up: Doug Ingle, Danny Weis, Jerry Penrod, and the late Ron Bushy (1941-2021) and Darryl Deloach (1947-2002).

The autographs on this piece have also been authenticated by Roger Epperson and his Letter of Authenticity is included with the item. 

Iron Butterfly contract collage

Iron Butterfly autographs

You can see more details and images of this terrific Iron Butterfly collage hereAlso check out this Iron Butterfly RIAA record award for their Ball album.

The venerable Led Zeppelin sadly came to a shockingly early demise on September 25, 1980 when drummer John "Bonzo" Bonham died. The group immediately disbanded out of respect for Bonham and their collective musical legacy.

Because of his untimely passing, autographs of Bonham are extremely rare, and finding collectibles with his autograph along with John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant's are even harder to find. In fact, recent sales of albums and other items containing the autographs of all four Zeppelin members have ranged from $25,000 to over $40,000.

Thus our excitement over the latest Led Zeppelin collage we have listed which includes clear autographs from all four members, with Bonham adding "Best Wishes" in his typical very vertical scribe. The autographs were gathered on one sheet of paper that was cut apart and one source reports these autographs as having been collected during Zeppelin's last European tour around June 1980. The autographs are fully authenticated by Roger Epperson and his Letter of Authenticity is included with the item. 

The autographs are augmented by a matted-in copy of Led Zeppelin III, which sports one of the most unique album designs of all time, designed by artist Zacron, whom Jimmy Page had met at the Kingston College of Art in 1963. Featuring a volvelle (the round disc that can be revolved to display different images through holes in the outer cover), the disc in the collage has been set to pay tribute to John Bonham by displaying his image on the right center of album jacket.  

Led Zeppelin collage signed by Bonham, Jones,  Page, Plant

Led Zeppelin autographs of all four

As shown above, clockwise from upper right in the collage are autographs from John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant. You can see more details and images of this very rare Led Zeppelin collage here.

These three collages are truly one-of-a-kind pieces of music history. Displaying them makes for a great way to pay tribute to these artists who have literally carved the musical landscape for several generations of musicians and fans over the last 50 plus years.

Don't miss out on these incredible pieces of history. See all the artist autographed items that we currently have for sale here or visit our home page for other memorabilia collections.

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