The most heavily documented and authenticated signed Zeppelin photo in existence!
Here is an extraordinarily rare 8” x 10” black and white 1977 U.S. Tour photograph signed by each member of Led Zeppelin: Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham and John Paul Jones, with Plant adding, “To Adrian Best Wishes”. Plant has signed in black felt tip, with the other three members signing in black ballpoint pen.
This is an uncirculated photograph by well-known New York-based photographer Chuck Pulin, taken on Zeppelin’s chartered plane, Caesar’s Chariot, at the onset of their historic 1977 U.S. tour. The verso has a stamp of Pulin’s New York City studio address and phone number, a 1977 photographer’s copyright stamp, as well as some handwritten notations in pencil.
The photo was signed for Martin Wood, a prominent London-based lawyer, who was handling the divorce proceedings for Led Zeppelin’s manager, Peter Grant. Wood obtained the signed photo for his nephew (Adrian). Comes with a detailed letter from the original recipient, which reads:
‘This black and white Led Zeppelin signed promotional photo was originally obtained by my uncle, Martin Wood, as a gift for me. In the 1970s, my uncle was a was a successful lawyer working in London at Lincoln’s Inn, one of the world’s most prestigious bodies of judges and lawyers. During this period, he handled many high-profile divorce settlement cases. In the Spring of 1977, during Led Zeppelin’s final U.S. tour, he was overseeing divorce proceedings for Peter Grant, the manager of Led Zeppelin. During a scheduled break in the 1977 tour, Peter Grant and the bandmembers had returned to London. It was during this timeframe that my uncle obtained this signed photo for me. The photo has been in my possession ever since.’
The photo comes with the original cardboard envelope with ‘R Cole’ written in an orange coloured photographer’s grease pencil. R Cole denotes Richard Cole, longtime tour manager of Led Zeppelin. Cole has written ‘For Martin Wood’ in blue ballpoint. Led Zeppelin fully signed photographs are exceedingly rare, much more so than Led Zeppelin signed albums. Indeed, only a small handful of authentic fully signed photographs have surfaced to date. This would be Led Zeppelin’s final tour of the United States, ending abruptly due to the sudden death of Plant’s son, Karac. This is a supremely rare signed photograph, obtained at the apex of Led Zeppelin’s storied career.
Comes with a detailed letter of provenance and full Letters of Authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services (BAS), James Spence Authentication (JSA) and music memorabilia authorities Tracks/UK and Roger Epperson/REAL Authentication.