A previously unknown and undocumented handbill promoting Bob Dylan’s first-ever solo concert, at New York’s Town Hall on April 12, 1963.

Prior to this show, Dylan had only played club dates, multi-artist shows and a single so-called ‘concert’ in a side room at Carnegie Hall that drew about 50 attendees.

The Town Hall concert was the first show at which Dylan played only original songs, with the exception of one traditional blues song.  While this concert took place six weeks before the release of Dylan’s second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, he had developed enough of a local following to fill three-quarters of the 1200 seat venue.

The printed quotes give an idea of how little known Dylan was at the time:  “He’s so goddam real, it’s unbelievable…Sing Out and Among the trends is BOB DYLAN-The depth and imagination of this 21 year old ragamuffin’s…songs continue to captivate…N.Y. Times.

This handbill was possibly made to be mailed out, as it is printed on the postcard-type cardstock, and measures 5 1/2″ x 3 1/4″.  The reverse is completely blank, however, so it might have just been printed on available postcard stock.

A larger handbill with a completely different design was also made to promote this concert .  However this the only known example of this smaller handbill to have surfaced.

With Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity.

[Recordmecca logo on photo is on the scan only, not on the actual handbill]