ELECTRIC LADYLAND. The original album cover artwork for the U.S. issue of Jimi Hendrix's 1968 masterpiece.

The original album cover artwork for the U.S. issue of Jimi Hendrix's 1968 masterpiece, Electric Ladyland. Photo collage on board. The "mechanical" for an unreleased alternate version created by the Warner Brothers Records art department prior to the album release in 1968. Unique.

The artwork for the hand-lettered type is believed to have been drawn by Los Angeles designer John Van Hamersveld, and the mechanical laid out by the album's art director, Ed Thrasher. In the design and print process "mechanicals" were sent to the label's colour separator, and used to make film for the album cover printer. Provenance: In the mid 1970s the Warner Bros. art department hired a freelance art director to go through their archives and dispose of old files, to create space for newer projects. He was given permission to keep a number of pieces, and gifted these to a friend.