Sotheby’s is auctioning off items from the collections of Grateful Dead Productions and their inner circle in From the Vault: Property from the Grateful Dead and Friends. Lots close on 14 October at 14:00 EDT, so get your checkbooks ready!
Does anyone still use checkbooks?
I’m not a Deadhead, never been, but I appreciate the phenomena that was The Grateful Dead. If money grew on trees, and we have a lot of trees, I’d grab a few items like this empty speaker cabinet used by Jerry (estimate: 1,000 to 2,000 USD).
Or this lovely RCA tube caddy, used by Ram Rod, with stage-used tubes (estimate: 2,000 to 3,000 USD). Or my personal favorite:
…Army surplus aspirator repurposed for nitrous oxide, ca. 1974 (estimate: 3,000 to 4,000 USD).
“Big” Steve Parish: “Bought by us on the crew while buying Army surplus racks for the Wall of Sound. Used for nitrous oxide—one of our fun party favorites. We used it for recreation at all private parties and at many shows, as seen in The Grateful Dead Movie. This oxygen mask was a convenient way to solve the problem of a direct delivery system, providing a reliable connection to pass around a hose attached to the nitrous tank. Provided an easy way for the band and crew to have a quick hit at the show.”
There are 288 lots in all, with lots of real instruments, guitar amps, McIntosh amps, and memorabilia.
Go to Sotheby’s to peruse and bid.
