Feeling inspired by the GN’R Album thread and a mention from cantina_patron I’ve decided to show some of the pieces in my Led Zeppelin memorabilia collection.  I have quite a bit of the same items most fans of the band have such as the music releases in various formats (albums, cassettes, cd’s, even an 8-track), magazines, fanzines, t-shirts, books, dvd’s, bootleg audio and video albums, cassettes, dvd’s etc.  I wanted to have some conversation items in my collection as well.  Below are some images of items in my collection.

The earliest piece in my collection is the actual letter from Led Zeppelin’s manager Peter Grant to Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records that had Led Zeppelin’s debut album artwork attached to it.  The front image of the Hindenburg disaster was done by George Hardie while the back photo image of the band was done by former Yardbirds rhythm guitarist / bassist Chris Dreja for $15.  The letter is short and states that enclosed is the artwork for the Led Zeppelin album cover.  Peter mentions that he would like the back photo printed in sepia and not black and white.  Peter Grant signed the letter that is dated December 10, 1968.  The “thank you Rick” watermark is to my friend Rick Barrett letting him know that the piece arrived safely.



Next is an actual performance contract for Led Zeppelin to play at the Farx Blues Club on March 30, 1969.  This date is five days after Led Zeppelin performed Dazed and Confused at the Supershow.  This is the entire one page contract which is signed by Peter Grant.  The contract is now framed and under protective glass, but I’ll show a scanned image of the contract.



As a side piece the original artwork came up for sale for the Robert Plant single “Pink and Black” off his Shaken ‘n’ Stirred release.  In the lower left of this display piece is the original artwork for the single done by Tim Ellock.  The artist also signed the artwork.  In addition Robert Plant also signed the 45 sleeve displayed as well.  The letter written by Tim stating he was commissioned by Robert to create the artwork is also shown.



For the collection focus I concentrate on the later years.  Shelley Kaye was a former Swan Song Records employee working for Led Zeppelin’s attorney Steve Weiss.  She was with Zeppelin from start to finish.  Shelley ran the New York Swan Song office, booked hotels, had limo’s waiting, and handled the publishing company Flames of Albion Music.  My friend Rick Barrett brokered the sale of her memorabilia items and I picked up a couple of things.  One item now on display in my humble abode is Shelley’s RIAA Platinum record “floater” award for Zeppelin’s In Through The Out Door release.



Here’s a complete set of all six In Through The Out Door album covers.



Also for my ITTOD focus I was able to locate a complete countertop display.  Sorry for the blurry image but the display is in a curio cabinet.



I also added an original rare unworn ITTOD promo shirt out of Shelley’s personal collection.



An item in my collection that was on the road is this 1980 Tour of Europe duffle bag that was used by their road manager Phil Carlo for the band’s final short tour of Europe in 1980.









Considering what the bag has been through it’s in pretty good shape.

Also from my ITTOD focus is an autographed ITTOD album signed by the surviving members of the band.



On September 25, 1980 the day that drummer John Bonham passed away tickets were made available for four concerts Led Zeppelin were to play in Chicago Illinois.  Sadly, once John Bonham passed away the band ended.  A gentleman named Michael Dehn was able to purchase the entire ticket inventory from those four proposed nights in the mid 1980’s to sell in a commemorative business venture.  I purchased a rare complete set example of tickets from those four proposed nights.  The interesting note about the set is the blue ticket shown in the lower left of the display is a rare aisle seat ticket.  Only 19 aisle seats were available for purchase for each night they were to perform for the four shows making the ticket below just one of 76 produced.



In addition, in the above image is another rare produced ticket from the proposed 1980 North American tour.  Most Led Zeppelin collectors only know about the 1980 Chicago tickets due to Michael selling them.  What most fans don’t know is that there was a batch of Joe Louis Arena Detroit Michigan tickets generated.  The tickets were created but never made available to the public.  They are extremely rare and roughly 15 examples are known to exist.  Apparently, the Detroit tickets were found tucked away at the box office and liberated from destruction.  Also, in the above image are examples of three of the four passes that were created for a concert at JFK Stadium in August of 1977.  Unfortunately, the concert never took place due to the tragic death of Robert Plant’s young son Karac.  Led Zeppelin were scheduled to wrap up the 1977 tour with a record breaking single artist sold out show in front of over 90,000 fans.  Sadly the passes never got the chance to be used.  I have the complete set of four passes.









Got to love Electric Factory’s logo of a wolf in a zoot suit!

I only have a couple of other unused concert tickets for my focus (which I only need five more unused ticket examples of).  Below is a rare box office purchased ticket for the cancelled Led Zeppelin show that was to be held at the Superdome in front of 80,000 fans in 1977.  This was to be the next show for the 1977 tour after the terrible event that took place in California.  Sadly, when Robert arrived in Louisiana he received the phone call that his son Karac passed away.  The below ticket is rumored to have been purchased by a well known musician.



Another unused ticket from the 1977 tour is the example below from the proposed show that was to take place at Rich Stadium in Buffalo.  Again, unused due to the cancellation of the rest of the tour due to the death of Robert’s son Karac.  The unused tickets are rare mainly due to the fact that most of the tickets were returned for refunds.



I also have an unused rare obstructed view ticket of a Led Zeppelin concert date in Chicago 1977.  The significance of this ticket is it is dated April 10, 1977.  This was the one and only concert in which guitarist Jimmy Page dressed as a World War II Nazi Stormtooper for the “shock” value.  Video footage of the show exists as well as numerous pictures.

One of my grail pieces I was finally able to obtain was this proposed 1980 Led Zeppelin tour jacket.  I obtained this jacket from the designer.  When I read about the jacket my understanding is that the jacket was to be sold at proposed 1980 concerts that were to be in Philadelphia.  I contacted the source again to follow up and I have now been informed that this jacket was created to give to the band members as well as immediate band personal management.  The jacket is made out of satin.  There is also a one off 1981 example that Shelley Kaye had but that’s another story for another time.





I have met Jason Bonham and had him sign two items.  Here’s his signature on a guitar tab book.



I’ll stop posting images here as there’s more that could be added, but you get the idea.  

Robert
www.behindthetoys.com

 Wow Robert! (Big + on its way) I know several Zeppelin fans that would seriously drool over those items.

How long did it take you to put that collection together?

And how did you source them? Specialist auctions?

Wow! What else can you say! Great collection chief, a pleasure to see so much Led Zep pre production stuff  

P.S. Hey Steve, I thought your GN'R collection basically bent me over and raped me! Robert just bent the pair of us over and raped the God damn hell out of us!

General Kahn wrote:

P.S. Hey Steve, I thought your GN'R collection basically bent me over and raped me! Robert just bent the pair of us over and raped the God damn hell out of us!

  I won't be able to sit down or walk straight for a week!

Thank you both for the kind words. I've owned the letter and performance contract for about five years now, although I've been collecting longer than that. Items have been picked up from all over the place through the years. Some of the key items have either been purchased directly from noted Led Zeppelin memorabilia expert Rick Barrett or have gone through his hands at some point. Rick even contributed to the second Led Zeppelin box set that came out in the early 1990's.

Rick once had a Led Zeppelin memorabilia business called Merit Adventures. Back in days of mail order business Rick would send out a newspaper type catalog with items for sale. As a matter of fact I have pretty close to a complete set of every mailer he sent out. I believe I'm only missing seven of eight pieces. Think of it as a Toy Shop but for Led Zeppelin memorabilia. I even started compiling a comprehensive guide of his catalogs, but haven't updated it in years. There's so much more I need to add and I need to correct the numbering system on the list. Here's the link:

http://www.behindthetoys.com/images/archive/rob/MeritCatalogs.htm

I only look for certain pieces for my collection. I believe I only need about 15 more items to have everything I really want an example of. As long as an item I need is for sale be it through an auction house, Ebay, or private sale I'm interested.  

I still follow the Star Wars hobby but haven't really collected in years. I've had my share of vintage prototypes such as the Chituhr run, almost a full set of coins half of the unproduced droid / ewok coins, some proof cards, all sorts of stuff. I've done my share of modern prototypes as well such as the only known complete set of unproduced COMMTech chips, hardcopies, mock-ups etc. Right now it's more entertaining watching the fun than taking part. Plus, it's cheaper too! Between family life, Led Zeppelin, the restored 'Cuda, and Star Wars funds come and go.

To quote one former Kenner / Hasbro employee I used to talk to "I have a lot of crap in my basement!"  

Robert
www.behindthetoys.com

Thanks for sharing, Robert. What a cool and diverse collection of Led Zep memorabilia! Great to see so much rare stuff from a great band.