Los Angeles – This June, Bonhams will present Cover to Cover: The Gary Burden Archive. Renowned for revolutionising album cover design, Gary Burden (1933- 2018) was responsible for crafting some of the most enduring musical imagery in the '60s and '70s for artists, including Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, the Mamas & the Papas, and the Eagles, among countless others. Featuring a wealth of original art, sketchbooks, awards, and ephemera, this collection offers a rare glimpse into Burden's artistic process and collaborations with legendary musicians of the era. The auction will be available to view and bid online from June 20 – 30.

Most notably credited with conceiving and designing albums such as Crosby, Stills & Nash's self-titled 1969 debut, Joni Mitchell's acclaimed 1971 masterpiece Blue, The Doors 1970 Morrison Hotel, and the Eagles 1973 Desperado, Burden's innovative covers have left an indelible mark on the music world, and this collection vividly illustrates his impact and captures the spirit of the scene at the time.

"Gary was a pioneer in album design, setting a standard for visual storytelling that deeply shaped how music is experienced and remembered. His ability to authentically capture an artist's identity through thoughtful, sophisticated design made his work an essential part of music history," commented Claire Tole-Moir, Bonhams Head of Popular Culture. "It is a rare and exciting privilege to offer a collection that not only embodies the spirit of California rock but also preserves the essence of the man behind these visual expressions."

Jenice Heo, Gary Burden's widow and creative partner, commented: "Gary liked the phrase: "Lead, follow, or get out of the way." He truly embodied that statement, and this collection shows his abundance of collaborations with legendary musicians of his day. This treasure trove of rare, one-of-a-kind items captures memorable moments in Rock 'n Roll history from the '60s and '70s and if these items could talk, they would tell tales of that era. This is a profound way of honouring and preserving Gary's legacy: offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of Rock 'n Roll heritage."

A major highlight within the sale is Gary Burden's hand drawn LP Cover for the Eagles 1973 album, Desperado. Estimated between $30,000 – 40,000, this pencil drawing for the album cover depicts the band as outlaw cowboys and includes Burden's handwritten notes in black marker. On the cover, Burden remarked that he wanted to create a dramatic visual image that would fit the conceptual music the Eagles had put together, so he drew a comparison between a guitar player in the 1970s and the gunslinger in the 1870s.

This extensive archive also includes a rare album cover proof and tape for Joni Mitchell's Blue, circa 1971, for which Burden notably contributed to the artwork. Widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, and perhaps the most recognisable Joni Mitchell image, this extremely rare piece of Blue memorabilia, estimated at $4,000 – 6,000, has never appeared on the market before. The original artwork by and used for Joni Mitchell's Ladies of The Canyon, 1970, which was gifted to Burden's first wife by Mitchell, will also be offered and is estimated at $15,000 – 20,000. Rounding out the sale's Joni Mitchell highlights includes a handwritten, undated, postcard from the singer-songwriter to Gary Burden, from Spain. Estimated between $800 – 1,200, the card, written in blue ink, and signed by Mitchell in the lower margin, includes drawings of face and musical notes, which read: "I've been around all the world and your still home to me, old you, old smoggy town you lift [music]."

Also of note is Gary Burden's personal and working 100-page bound sketchbook, circa 1969, one out of several being offered in the sale. This sketchbook features a plethora of intricate album designs, drawings and sketches of some of the prominent musical artists Burden worked with during his career, documenting the evolution of Burden's work. Estimated at $8,000 – 12,000, the major highlight within the sketchbook is the experimental plan for the debut self-titled 1969 Crosby, Stills & Nash album—the first Burden ever made—as well as a large spread of designs for the album, including the sketch close to how the cover ultimately appeared.

Additional musical imagery highlights within the collection include the lithograph used for the 1975 album cover of One of These Nights— the Eagles' first number one album— and the fourth and final cover Burden made for the band, estimated between $10,000 – 15,000; the rare and original 'Water Bag' used for the debut album of Jackson Browne, circa 1972, estimated between $6,000 – 8,000; and the two album cover proofs for The Doors' 1970 Morrison Hotel, estimated between $3,000 – 4,000.

Highlights rounding out the collection include Gary Burden's Grammy Nomination Plaque for One of These Nights, presented to Burden in 1975 at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Recording Package, estimated between $2,000 – 3,000; and the original album cover art for American country rock band, Poco, for its self-titled 1970 second studio album, estimated between $1,000 – 1,500.

(Press Release)