A beautiful near mint first (and only) printing of FD-40, the Family Dog poster known as "Hippy Santa Claus," advertising a December, 1966 concert by the Grateful Dead, the Steve Miller Blues Band and Moby Grape at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco. The poster, with art by the legendary Victor Moscoso, measures approx. 14 1/4" x 20" has never been exhibited and is bright and fresh as the day it was printed, with only some ultra minor handling and a tiny 1/4" impression at the bottom center border. The stamp of Lorin Gillete Poster Distributors is on the reverse. This poster comes the collection of the late Ralph J. Gleason (1917-1975;) one of the most influential jazz and pop music critics of all time. He was a central figure in the San Francisco rock scene, helped organize the Monterey Pop Festival, and co-founded Rolling Stone magazine. Bill Graham himself credited Gleason with suggesting the Fillmore Auditorium to him as a site for concerts, while the Family Dog met with Gleason at his home to discuss their idea to stage dance concerts, prior to their first show at the Longshoreman's Hall. This is a rare opportunity to obtain a poster from the personal collection of one of the key figures of the San Francisco Scene. On request, we will gladly provide a certificate of authenticity stating that this poster came from the Ralph J. Gleason Collection.