A United California Bank signature card beautifully signed by Janis Joplin, with her 1966 Internal Revenue Service tax extension form and a copy of a circa 1966 Mainstream Records publicity photo.

Joplin carefully signed the signature card in blue ballpoint, as it was to be used as an exemplar for her signature.  The IRS ‘Application for Extension of Time to File’ was filled out on Joplin’s behalf, with her San Francisco address added in an unknown hand.  The form gives as the reason for the delay in filing “Income from partnership, Big Brother & The Holding Company, is not available.”

Both documents are from the collection of Big Brother and the Holding Company manager Julius Karpen (1935-2021), and date from a critical juncture in Joplin’s career.  She first sang with Big Brother on June 10, 1966, and the band recorded their debut album in September and December of that year.  Barely a year after Joplin joined, the band played their breakthrough performances at the Monterey Pop Festival.  Also included is a copy of a Mainstream Records publicity photo of Big Brother with Janis.

The signature card has been authenticated by noted music autograph expert Roger Epperson.

Signature card: 5” x 3”.  IRS document 8 ½” x 11”.  Photograph: 8″ x 10″.  All in excellent condition.

With Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity, and Roger Epperson’s letter of authenticity for the signature card.