Heritage Auctions

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Press Release - April 5, 2004

HERITAGE TAKES A BITE OUT OF THE BIG APPLE!

Dallas, TX: "New York truly is a heck of a town," said Heritage Comics (HCA) Director of Auctions John Petty, "They say if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, and who are we to disagree? Our latest Signature Sale, held April 2-3, 2004 at the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan, was a rousing success. We had over 1,800 bidders, 404 of whom actually won lots." The sale has grossed $2,222,673 so far (1435 lots sold out of 1733 offered), with additional After-Auction sales still coming in.

"The big news about this sale," added Ed Jaster, HCA's Director of Acquisitions, "was twofold: first, the sterling performance of the Seashore Collection of original art, and second, the amazing prices realized for high-grade DC keys."

"The two factors that really helped the Seashore collection perform as well as it did," continued Jaster, "was the impeccable quality of the pieces offered, coupled with the fact that everything in the collection was offered at no reserve. Bidders responded to that in a big way, resulting in some of the most spirited bidding I've ever seen at a public auction. As far as the DC material goes, that's a segment of the hobby that's been languishing for a few years, but now it's back with a vengeance. We've seen the trend over our last few sales, but this time around resulted in prices that were particularly strong."

Highlights of the sale include:

Charles Schulz - Original Comic Strip Art for Peanuts Sunday 6-2-52 (United Features Syndicate, 1952).
This wonderful, witty example of early Peanuts art offers a funny send-up of the violence to be found at every local newsstand in America, circa 1950s. Good Ol' Charlie Brown, depressed and discouraged as always, needs a pick-me-up, the kind only a good gore-filled comic book can deliver. In the process of choosing a comic, he manages to lay waste to the entire rack! The incredibly clean line work of Schulz is truly a thing of beauty, and we can envision the lucky high bidder spending hours studying every brushstroke on this masterpiece. Comic art for the "funnypapers" doesn't get any better than this! The art has been professionally double-matted and framed to a size of 32" x 24.5", with an image area of 23" x 15.5". The art is in excellent condition. SOLD FOR $71,875.

Captain America Comics #1 (Timely, 1941) CGC VF 8.0 Off-white to white pages.
With a sock to Hitler's jaw, Captain America makes his auspicious comics debut on this cover by the then-fledgling artist who would be "King," Jack Kirby. One of the giants in comics, Kirby's creations and distinctive art would continue until his death over 50 years after his most famous character blazed onto the scene in 1941. Breathtaking in its scope and audacity, Cap is then, now, and forever America's ultimate super-patriot. This issue also features first appearances of Cap's sidekick, Bucky, and of his nemesis, the Red Skull. This unrestored book ranks high among the finest copies CGC lists in the most current census available. Just four unrestored copies have earned higher grades from CGC to date, only one of which exceeded VF/NM 9.0, making our offering particularly enticing to the serious collector. SOLD FOR $60,375.

The Brave and the Bold #28 Justice League of America (DC, 1960) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages.
The Silver Age of comics began with DC's decision to revive and update the concepts that made the Golden Age so successful. Here's one of their best revivals, in this "try-out" issue of Brave and the Bold. The transformation of the All Star Comics team, the Justice Society, into the more modern Justice League was truly inspired, and proved to be enormously popular with the current crop of comic book readers, most of whom were too young to remember the originals. After only two more Brave and the Bold appearances, the group was awarded their own series, which was a top seller throughout the 1960s, serving as inspiration for many more heroic teams to come -- including those at rival companies like Marvel. As Silver Age key issues go, this one is hard to beat. And this copy is the one to beat as well; currently, it remains the highest graded copy of issue #28 certified by CGC, with the next highest copy a modest VF/NM 9.0. SOLD FOR $60,375.

Detective Comics #27 (DC, 1939) CGC VG- 3.5 Cream to off-white pages.
Iconic and awe-inspiring, this groundbreaking issue currently ranks behind only Action Comics #1 on Overstreet's Top 100 Golden Age Comics list. The Photo-Journal Guide to Comic Books identifies this as an "uncommon" issue, and it's awfully difficult to find in nicer condition than this offering. We have previously sold just two unrestored copies, both of which bore lower CGC grades than this. Batman's creator, Bob Kane, just 22 years old when this issue hit the stands, handled cover and interior art on this issue which introduced the Caped Crusader and Commissioner Gordon. Even at this grade, CGC has certified just four other unrestored copies with higher grades, none higher than Very Fine. CGC notes, "2 small pieces of tape on spine." SOLD FOR $48,300.

Superman Comics #nn Ashcan (DC, 1939) CGC VF/NM 9.0 Off-white pages.
For any Superman title collector, this is the ultimate item to acquire. This ashcan features the cover art from Action Comics #7 (which was rendered by Joe Siegel and Jerry Shuster) and a partial interior from Action Comics #8. DC produced Ashcans to secure the trademark and copyright to the title and logo. Hence, this is the first time that Superman Comics appeared on a published cover anywhere in history. Accordingly, this item might theoretically be valued much higher than the actual Superman #1 that got newsstand distribution. There are only two known copies of this ashcan, and both were purchased from Sol Harrison who worked his way up from a production assistant to President at DC comics. Again, as only a handful of ashcans were needed, they were produced by hand. The cover stock used is velox paper, which is the same material used to shoot the completed artwork of a regular comic book. Velox paper is noted for its ability to create crisp and clear lines from the artwork. Consequently, the detail on ashcans is unsurpassed. This ultimate Superman collectible has staples that are about an inch off center that go clean through to the other side of the comic. The cover is hand trimmed with nary a detracting factor. Once the importance of ashcans are fully realized by the marketplace, their values should soar. SOLD FOR $34,500.

Winsor McCay - Original Comic Strip Art for Little Nemo in Slumberland Sunday dated 1909 (New York Herald, 1909).
Since the debut of newspaper comics around the dawn of the Twentieth Century, there have been many memorable strips. Some, like George Herriman's Krazy Kat, are revered for their literary qualities. Others, like Walt Kelly's Pogo, are remembered for their incisive look at contemporary politics and society, or like Peanuts for their gentle good humor. For sheer artistic quality and imagination, none can compare to Winsor McCay's masterwork, Little Nemo in Slumberland. The story of a young boy and his wonderful adventures in the land of dreams, McCay painted fabulous vistas of color and light on the comics page that were far, far ahead of his time. His delicate linework, unerring sense of color, and boundless imagination combined to create an artistic and engaging strip that has not yet seen its equal. In 1966, McCay's work was the subject of an exhibit at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, and noted illustrator Maurice Sendak has cited McCay's work as a major influence on his own style. High praise indeed for a "mere comic strip artist." The stunning example offered here, showing Nemo, Flip, and a friend escaping from a rising volcano, is typical of McCay's work on this strip and the related Dreams of a Rarebit Fiend, where a seemingly small event blossoms into a crisis of brobdingnagian proportions. Created in two panels, each with an image area of approximately 21.5" x 13.75" and in excellent condition, this piece represents the high water mark in comic strip collecting. It is signed by McCay in the last panel. SOLD FOR $32,200.

Batman #1 (DC, 1940) CGC FN+ 6.5 Off-white pages.
One of the most coveted comics of the Golden Age, Batman #1 offers many reasons for its vast popularity, including the first appearance of comicdom's quintessential villain, the Joker, as well as the Catwoman, the first villainess in comics. Also included is a non-Robin story intended for use in Detective #38. Batman's origin is retold in this issue, and the Joker's origin is told for the first time. Ranked as the sixth most valuable Golden Age comic by Overstreet, this book is elusive in grades even this high. Just a half-dozen unrestored copies have earned higher grades from CGC to date. SOLD FOR $29,900.

The Flash #105 (DC, 1959) CGC NM- 9.2 Off-white to white pages.
The Scarlet Speedster, who launched the Silver Age of Comics with his tryout appearances in Showcase, gets his own title, with the numbering picking up where the Golden Age Flash Comics left off. Carmine Infantino provided the cover and interior art, and made a serious bid at becoming comics' finest artist with his work on this title. The Mirror Master makes his first appearance, and the Flash's origin is retold. This beautiful copy is one of just two at this grade to be certified by CGC to date, with none yet graded higher. SOLD FOR $29,900.

Justice League of America #1 (DC, 1960) CGC NM- 9.2 Off-white pages.
Murphy Anderson's dramatic cover ranks high among the greatest of all Silver Age DCs. For those too young to remember the Golden Age Justice Society (and even for the oldsters who could), this premiere issue was greeted with enthusiastic anticipation. Mike Sekowsky's career-defining stint on the title's interior art continued from the Brave and the Bold tryout issues. This is an extremely elusive issue to find in high grade. Think we're just hypin'? Wrong, Despero-face! CGC has certified only one copy (of 119 unrestored copies certified to date) nicer, at NM 9.4, and at Heritage we haven't offered a copy nicer than VF 8.0 among 16 previous copies auctioned. One of the blockbusters of our sale! SOLD FOR $27,600.

The Human Torch 2 (#1) (Timely, 1940) CGC VF 8.0 Off-white pages.
That's right! It's bold! It's bad! It's the third biggest (i.e., Overstreet value) Timely book of all, ranking number 24 among all Golden Age comic books, and moving up the charts! It's fall of 1940, and the Human Torch, Toro, and the Sub-Mariner are already taking on Nazis in this Alex Schomburg cover. The Torch by Carl Burgos, Subby by Bill Everett; it doesn't get any Timelier than this. The origin and intro of Toro is featured in this Gerber "uncommon" book, our copy of which currently ranks behind only two copies that CGC has certified to date. And one of those is barely ahead at VF+ 8.5. SOLD FOR $26,450.

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HeritageComics.com.

HCA specializes in rare, high-grade comic books, as well as vintage comic and animation art, illustration art, classic toys, movie posters and comics-related collectibles.

Prospective consignors and sellers of top-end comics material, toys, and original art are invited to call Ed Jaster at 214-252-4288 or Fred McSurley at 214-252-4293 to discuss their rare comics and original illustration and comic art. Or visit www.HeritageComics.com and click on the "consign" tab. Or simply email Ed Jaster at EdJ@HeritageComics.com or Fred McSurley at FredM@HeritageComics.com.

Movie poster consignors, please call Grey Smith at 214-668-6928 or email GreySm@HeritageMoviePosters.com.

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