Original vintage gelatin silver print of John Lennon in his New York City T-shirt, 1977, photographed by Bob Gruen.
Verso of Bob Gruen’s vintage John Lennon, New York City, 1977 print, showing the photographer’s copyright archive stamp and period annotations.
Detail of Bob Gruen’s signature and copyright stamp on the vintage John Lennon, 1977 gelatin silver print.
Bob Gruen

John Lennon, New York City T-Shirt, 1977 — Vintage Silver Gelatin Print

John Lennon
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About the Photograph

Bob Gruen’s portrait of John Lennon in the now-legendary “NEW YORK CITY” T-shirt is among the most recognized photographs in the history of music — an enduring emblem of Lennon’s love for the city he made his home.

This is an original vintage gelatin silver print, made from Gruen’s negative in 1980 and signed by the photographer, with his copyright archive stamp on the verso. Vintage prints of this image are held in major public and private collections and rarely come to market.

The photograph belongs to Rockers, a portfolio of twenty Bob Gruen images produced as only five complete sets. It is offered here as an individual print; only a selection of the portfolio is shown online, and the complete catalogue documenting all twenty works is available on request. A work for the serious collector and the institution.

Photographer: Bob Gruen
Subject: John Lennon
Image date: 1977
Print date: 1980 (vintage)
Location: New York City
Process: Gelatin silver print
Paper: Single-weight fibre
Dimensions: 7 × 9¾ in (17.8 × 24.8 cm)
Edition: From “Rockers,” an edition of only five complete sets
Markings: Signed by the photographer; copyright stamp on verso
Availability: Price on request

Offered unframed. The complete Rockers catalogue and further works are available on request; TMPG is available to assist collectors considering this piece.

The Print Object details, provenance, condition & documentation
Photographer
Bob Gruen
Subject
John Lennon
Collection
Bob Gruen Archive
Image Date
1974
Print Date
1980
Location
New York City
Print Classification
Vintage
Process
Gelatin Silver Print
Support
Paper
Dimensions
7 × 9¾ in (17.8 × 24.8 cm)
Edition
Limited Edition
Rarity / Edition Notes
From “Rockers,” a portfolio of twenty vintage gelatin silver prints by Bob Gruen, produced in an edition of only five complete sets. Each print is signed by the photographer. Only a selection is shown online; the complete catalogue of all twenty works is available on request.
Recto Markings
One of Bob Gruen’s most iconic images of John Lennon, wearing the New York City T-shirt that came to symbolize his adopted home. An original vintage gelatin silver print from the Rockers portfolio, signed by the photographer — an edition of only five complete sets.
Verso Documentation
The verso bears Bob Gruen’s copyright archive stamp together with period annotations.
Framing
Unframed
Authenticity
Original

A complete Archive Record, including verso documentation, authentication evidence, provenance details, and condition documentation, is available to qualified collectors upon request.

Bob Gruen
The photographer

Bob Gruen

American photographer whose images of John Lennon, Blondie, The Clash, the Ramones, and New York's downtown music scene helped define the visual history of rock and roll.

View all works by Bob Gruen