Vintage T-Shirt Forum & Community Authentication Appraisals

Please please please let this be the real deal! It came out of a long-stored suitcase from the 80s. It's super soft and almost see-through if held up to the light.

UNITED STATES TOUR '77
LED ZEPPELIN

gray with mostly yellow and blue lettering (and some red, etc. in the artwork)

It's a V-neck, and seems shorter than the only other one I could find online. Maybe it was for girls? Oh - they probably screened the image lower due to the low V-neck.

It has a few holes and some almost-holes. The change in color on the sleeves is just the light when we shot it quickly.

Thanks for any/all info!

(Btw, also found a 1985 Robin Trower tee in the same suitcase - will post separately - also seems quite rare as can find no others online)

Its a little odd to be on a v neck - but I think its legit old. the cut is unfortunate though...needs to go to a lady. Unless belly shirts come back in style for men.

jimmyj wrote:Its a little odd to be on a v neck - but I think its legit old. the cut is unfortunate though...needs to go to a lady. Unless belly shirts come back in style for men.

I was thinking that too. Yeah, best to be worn by a woman.

OK, now, the crucial part for me - value? The last one I saw (not as worn in) went for $750. on ebay. (In fact I've found very few of them - can you point me to any others that have sold?). I'm not sure if the V-neck makes it more or less desirable. I welcome your thoughts!

The cut kills the value mostly. Be surprised if you got more than $100.

Bummer. Thanks for your input, JJ.

Jimmy J, are you sure it's from the period? Someone was interested but then said they didn't think they made heather gray then, in which case they thought it might be a later reprint. Is there a way one can research this? Thanks!

Sorry should have clarified the legit old comment - yes may be 80s which is still legit old. Although I have never considered when heathered grey emerged. Gotta keep an eye on that. Anyone else?

The heather gray t-shirt dates back to the '50's...as I've seen photos of Marlon Brando wearing one...


This one is of my brother wearing a vintage NY Knicks tee in 1973, though we have pics from at least '71 of him wearing the same one. (Yellow paint added to protect the innocent ). Reminds me how long it's been since I've had birch beer.

Thanks FiftyFiftyMan! Now if we can only figure out if Zeppelin released a v-neck of this 1977 US tour....I've exhausted my (limited) resources, but this can't be the only one out there?

Did bands ever make women's tees in the 70s, or were they always unisex?

Possibly, though I've never run across any. Perhaps some true vintage bootleg items are floating around. Official merch, I'm not sure. The only ones I saw on Ebay were retro babydoll & women's styles from only the last 10 years (with a few unscrupulous sellers trying to pass them off as period vintage). I'll keep my eye out for you.

FiftyFiftyMan wrote:Possibly, though I've never run across any. Perhaps some true vintage bootleg items are floating around. Official merch, I'm not sure. The only ones I saw on Ebay were retro babydoll & women's styles from only the last 10 years (with a few unscrupulous sellers trying to pass them off as period vintage). I'll keep my eye out for you.

Thank you, 50/50! Based on where I found it, and the quality/crackling of the screened art, and the softness of the fabric/holes, I hope it's authentic. Are there any other signs to look for to help ID a true vintage tee (since this doesn't have a tag) such as the stitching, seams, etc.?

I also found a 1985 Robin Trower "Beyond the Mist" US Tour tee in the same suitcase, which I can't find one example of online - see my post from the other day. No idea how to price it!

Without a tag, you have to look at the print. Does it look generic? American Eagle, Lucky Brand etc specialize in faux vintage tees i.e. Joe's Boxing Parlor or some such gimmick. True vintage are usually going to be more specific, to an actual place or event. Also look for small print and the general feel of the fabric. Most true vintage were a cotton/poly mix, often times very thin. Tri blends with rayon are the best vintage shirts, and are usually easy to spot by their feel, and they are usually vintage as well. Although I have a newer tri-blend shirt by Alternative Earth that I swear, without the tag, I'd be duped into thinking was straight from 1978.

Figured I'd post a better shot of it, on a human person.