An impossibly rare Grateful Dead collectible–an original invitation to the launch party of the first-ever Grateful Dead album, "The Grateful Dead," at Fugazi Hall in San Francisco, on March 20, 1967.(br)This invitation admitted you to this legendary party, at which Warner Bros. President Joe Smith famously told the assembled suits and hippies how proud he was for Warner Bros. Records to be able to "introduce the Grateful Dead to the world." Evidently Jerry Garcia thought this a bit presumptions, and told the crowd how happy the Grateful Dead was to introduce Warner Bros. Records to the world !(br)The Dead performed at this event (it is listed in all the Dead concert databases.)(br)This party took place 3 days after the release of the Dead's first album, and this invitation is the only example we've seen in 35 years of collecting. 8 1/2" x 11", in excellent condition, with two horizontal creases, and one vertical crease (presumably for mailing,) a couple of almost invisible glue spots on the back, and a bit of handling. But overall, extremely nice.(br)This invitation uses artwork by Stanley Mouse, originally designed for the Dead's appearance the year before at The Old Cheese Factory in San Francisco, but modified by Mouse for this event.(br)This came from the estate of the late, great Ralph J. Gleason, music editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, co-founder or Rolling Stone Magazine and arguably the most important music critic ever ! Gleason was a friend and supporter of the San Francisco bands, and wrote about them in his definitive book "The Jefferson Airplane and the San Francisco Scene." As with everything we offer, guaranteed authentic with no time limit.