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Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet Album Proofs

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet Album Proofs

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Auction Date:2017 Oct 26 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Incredibly rare album cover proofs for the front and back of the Rolling Stones' masterpiece Beggars Banquet, using the unreleased 'toilet' artwork, from the portfolio of legendary art director Tom Wilkes, who—with Michael Vosse, Barry Feinstein, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards—came up with the design. Each cover slick measures 12.5 x 12.75 and has a small piece of adhesive on the reverse. This is the proof for the would-be US release by London Records, and has the "London" logo and catalog number ("Stereo, PS539") at the top of the front cover. In overall fine condition, with aforementioned adhesive residue to reverse and two tiny creases to the left edge of the slick for the front cover. In the 49 years since this album has been released, perhaps five album cover proofs for the original artwork have surfaced—these are likely the ones in best condition. These original proofs were carefully preserved by Wilkes and included in his portfolio, a large book of his designs used to show potential clients; two images of the portfolio are included. Also accompanied by a letter of provenance stating that these were acquired from Wilkes's archive. These slicks are oversized, larger than a final printed album cover; the artwork would have been cropped for final use. As a result, they display more of the photograph, including on the front cover a bit more writing at the top, the full toilet paper roll at the left, extra wall on the right, and more of the toilet seat at the bottom.

To make this cover, the artists brought Mick and Keith to a car repair shop in Los Angeles which was known to have a particularly vile bathroom. Given crayons and felt pens, the two Stones decorated the walls with typical-looking graffiti that incorporated a track listing and credits. Both Decca in the UK and London in the US refused to release the originally planned 'toilet' cover, resulting in dispute that caused a months-long delay of the album's release. In the end, they took the cover art to the other extreme and made it look like a formal wedding invitation. The 'toilet' cover would eventually be used in advertising and for most CD reissues of Beggars Banquet.