Jerry Garcia’s personal test pressings of the Grateful Dead’s 1971 self-titled double album, better known as Skull and Roses.  These test pressings, with an unreleased alternate coupling, were sold by Garcia’s widow, Deborah Koons Garcia, at a Bonhams auction of Garcia’s personal property.

Wikipedia notes the album, “Although published without a title, it is generally known by the names Skull and Roses (due to its iconic cover art) and Skull Fuck (the name the band originally wanted to give to the album, which was rejected by the record company). It was the group’s first album to be certified gold by the RIAA and remained their best seller until surpassed by the [greatest hits album] Skeletons From the Closet.

While the commercially released double album paired the discs Side 1/Side 2 and Side 3/Side 4, these possibly unique test pressings pair the sides for automatic record changers,  pairing them Side 1/Side 3 and Side 2/Side 4.  As far as we can determine, the album was never released this way–presumably the band objected.  As test pressings these were the first records pressed, made for Garcia to approve before mass production of the album.  Both discs are Near Mint condition, housed in the original generic sleeves with notations with the band’s name, catalog number, etc.

With a letter from Bonhams confirming the these were ‘formerly the property of Jerry Garcia’, a copy of the original Bonhams exhibition card, a copy of the relevant catalog page, and Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity [Note: these discs were part of a lot that included other discs, but we are only selling the two test pressings pictured here.]

Matrix numbers:

 

Disc 1/ 2WS-1935 A  39943-1A / 2WS-1935 C  39945-1B (Artisan stamps on both sides)

Disc 2/ 2WS-1935 B  39944-1B / 2WS-1935 D  39946-1A (Artisan stamps on both sides)

An extraordinary Jerry Garcia/Grateful Dead collectible, from the personal collection of the man himself.

To read Recordmecca owner Jeff Gold’s blog post on collecting artist-owned records- search 'Why I collect beat up records owned by Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and members of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Velvet Underground and Grateful Dead.'

We grade all records visually, cover first, then disc; using the abbreviations M / NM / EX / VG with + and -. We try to describe everything as accurately as possible, and spot check any vinyl flaw that looks like it might make a sound. We regularly receive praise for our grading, but as all grading is subjective, we are happy to give a full refund for anything you aren't happy with no questions asked.

Unlike some eBay sellers, we don't feel the need to hype records by including long reviews or albums, quoting lyrics, making up arcane variations. We just grade accurately, describe any flaw, and sell only high quality rare records in fine condition.

See our other listings for more from this fantastic collection.

We have been buying and selling music collectibles for nearly 50 years.

Recordmecca's clients include the Smithsonian Institution, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Museum of Pop Culture ( formerly Experience Music Project,) the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Recordmecca's Jeff Gold was named by Rolling Stone as one of 5 Top Collectors of High-End Music Memorabilia. He authenticated previously unknown Bob Dylan manuscripts for PBS's History Detectives, appeared as a featured appraiser on VH1's Rock Collectors, and has been profiled as a top dealer and collector in the books Vinyl Junkies and Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to it's Own Past.

Gold is author of the acclaimed books Sittin' In: Jazz Clubs of the 1940s and 1950s; Total Chaos: The Story of The Stooges/As Told By Iggy Pop;  and 101 Essential Rock Records: The Golden Age of Vinyl a survey of seminal rock albums, featuring contributions from David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Johnny Marr and Graham Nash.

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