This handbill collection spans the crucial early period when the Grateful Dead evolved from local curiosity to national phenomenon. The inclusion of 1970 captures the band at a moment of consolidation, hey had survived the late 1960s intact, built a national touring presence, and were beginning to document and preserve their own history.

1970 was the year of Workingman's Dead and American Beauty, studio albums that demonstrated the band's ability to work with song structures while maintaining improvisational integrity. Handbills from 1970 would reflect the band at this moment of artistic confidence and expansion.

The progression from 1966 to 1970 in a single collection allows collectors to see the full arc of the Dead's visual language during its early development.

• Condition: Original handbills, set of 5 covering 1966-1970
• Historical significance: Documents the early era through the early success period.
• Rarity: Original period handbills in good condition are increasingly scarce