A handbill for Led Zeppelin’s “1st show” (as The Yardbirds) in the UK, at the Marquee Club October 18, 1968. Though the handbill advertises this as the UK debut of the new lineup of the Yardbirds, this was actually their 2nd UK show–a few days earlier they played Newcastle, probably as a warm up for this, their London debut.

The front of the handbill proclaims “The New Yardbirds, originally a “Marquee group,” also re-appear this month on Friday, 18th October. Fittingly their British debut is at the club. The personnel has changed since the early days and now features Jimmy Page (Lead Guitar), John Paul Jones (Bass guitar), John Bonham (Drums) and Robert Plant (Vocals.) Incidentally Jimmy is now playing a specially built Fender 6 pedal steel guitar as well as the more usual lead guitar.”

When Zeppelin formed, they played a few shows in Scandinavia and the UK as the “New Yardbirds” to fulfill contractual obligations for The Yardbirds, Page’s former band. No handbill or poster has surfaced for the Newcastle show, making this the 1st UK printed piece for Zeppelin under either name. This is not shown on the otherwise encyclopedic website LedZeppelin.com–even more evidence of it’s ultra scarcity. Also featured on this handbill are shows by Fairport Convention, Free, Jethro Tull, Family, Spooky Tooth, and others.  5 3/4″ x 9″ and in near mint condition, with a virtually unnoticable horizontal crease.