Heritage Auctions

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Press Release - May 24, 2005

Heritage Comics Takes a Bite Out of the Big Apple!

DALLAS, TEXAS: Heritage Comics Auctions (HCA) held its most recent Signature Auction May 18-20, in New York City. 87.13% of the lots offered were sold, for a total of $3,514,373. 2,600 total bidders competed for 3,542 lots, 733 of them successfully. 57 lots were purchased after the auction by 38 bidders for a total of $76,285.

"New York has always been good to us, and this was no exception," said Ed Jaster, Director of Acquisitions for HCA. "The East Coast is home to a large number of serious collectors, and it's always a pleasure to see them when Heritage hits Manhattan."

"This auction was chock-full of rare and exciting material," Jaster continued, and bidders responded eagerly to these once-in-a-lifetime offerings. This event was primarily about high-grade, key issues, such as the Allentown copy of Detective Comics #38, CGC-graded NM 9.4 with off-white pages, and the White Mountain copy of Amazing Fantasy #15, CGC-graded NM 9.4 with off-white to white pages, both of which realized $126,500. The Larson copy of More Fun Comics #54, CGC-graded NM- 9.2 with white pages was another winner, ringing in at $43,125, while the second-highest graded copy of Journey into Mystery #83, CGC-graded NM 9.4 with off-white to white pages also brought $43,125."

"Original art also inspired spirited bidding during the auction," said Jaster. "The landmark last page of the very first Sub-Mariner story from Marvel Comics #1 by Bill Everett realized $86,250, while a lovely early Peanuts Sunday by Charles Schulz sold for $57,500. From the Silver Age, the classic cover to Captain America #102 by co-creator Jack Kirby brought $36,800, while the Bronze Age was well-represented by the John Byrne and Bob Layton cover to X-Men #113, which sold for $34,500."

"All in all, this was a very exciting and very successful auction," Jaster enthused. "I'm really looking forward to our next trip to the Big Apple!"

Additional auction highlights included:

All-American Comics #16 (DC, 1940) CGC FN- 5.5 Cream to off-white pages. One of the five most valuable comics of all, and the highest grade yet awarded for that book... do we have your attention? This is the origin and first appearance of the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott. According to Overstreet, the only comics more valuable than this one are the "big four" of Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #27, Marvel Comics #1, and Superman #1. The reason this book is valued higher than the first appearances of Wonder Woman, the Flash, etc. has to do with the scarcity; Overstreet calls the issue "rare," while Gerber gives it a 7, meaning "scarce." The interior art on this first Green Lantern story is by the character's creator Martin Nodell, who's credited as "Mart Dellon" inside the issue. Nodell and Bill Finger (who assisted on the scripting here) came up with an appealing hero who spends this first story finding out the extent of his new powers. His major vulnerability was not the color yellow, but rather anything made of wood! The cover art for this issue was the work of Sheldon Moldoff. Incidentally, the comic is far from an all-superhero affair -- the backup features include Mutt and Jeff as well as Sheldon Mayer's comic artist character Scribbly. REALIZED: $34,500.

Silver Streak Comics #1 Pay Copy (Lev Gleason, 1939) CGC VF/NM 9.0 Cream to off-white pages. This is a very significant comic book, and ours is the most desirable copy of the issue you'll find! Not only is our offering tied for the highest grade that has been assigned to this issue, it's happens to be the "pay copy," used by Lloyd Jacquet of Funnies Inc. to keep a written record of which sum was paid to which creator who participated. The information (name, sum, date paid, and check number) is written in pen at the top of the first page of each respective story. Silver Streak #1 is the first comic book by one of the more successful Golden Age publishers, the company that would soon be known as Lev Gleason Publications (here still called Rhoda Publications with the abbreviation "YG" for Your Guide). The content for this comic was provided by Jacquet's "shop" of artists, which was known as Funnies Inc. and included Jack Cole and Bill Everett. The same shop had also produced Marvel Comics #1 just two months earlier, and that brings us to a peculiar feature of this issue -- it's got an ad for Timely's Marvel Mystery Comics #2 on the inside back cover! Also of note is that Silver Streak actually had metallic ink on the cover, a gimmick to stand out at newsstands. The issue is significant in terms of characters as well, as it has the first appearance of the Claw, drawn by Cole. Claw was one of the first supervillains in comics, period, and he was a formidable one indeed -- not only did he almost epitomize evil, not only was his goal nothing short of world domination, and not only did he have fearsome claws and fangs, he could also grow to enormous size! He'd prove to be quite a handful for many a Lev Gleason hero, most notably Daredevil who first appeared in this series a few issues later. All of this contributes to the issue's Overstreet ranking as one of the 100 most valuable Golden Age books; the catch is that it's harder to find than most of the others, earning Overstreet's "scarce" designation. Our offering looks superb -- the silver still gleams and the other colors look great as well. The fact that the Jacquet/Funnies Inc. pay copy of Marvel Comics #1 was sold for $350,000 a couple of years ago is, to say the least, a strong indication that pay copies command quite a premium, befitting a one-of-a-kind item. REALIZED: $33,000.

Jack Davis - Tales From the Crypt #39 Cover Original Art (EC, 1953). Jack Davis' spine-tingling cover for the blood-curdler, "Undertaking Parlor," ranks as one of the most memorable horror covers that EC ever dished up for its fan-addicts. Once seen, no EC reader would ever forget this pulse-pounding scene of little kids running for their lives from a knife-wielding lunatic, beneath a full moon in a graveyard! Jack Davis' unique blend of horror and humor was ideally suited for such over-the-top chiller-dillers! Jack Davis recalled his early days of looking for his niche at EC; he initially tried to land a spot as a romance artist! "Al Feldstein gave me my first horror story, probably because my romance work was such horrible stuff." This cover exemplifies the Jack Davis hallmarks: his loose and scratchy line work, and a knack for exaggerated expression, in both the faces and body language of his figures. As Davis himself put it, "I'm a cartoonist, not an illustrator." The end result was storytelling with an emotional impact that was visceral. Small wonder that Dr. Frederick Wertham cited a Jack Davis yarn in his infamous anti-comics screed, Seduction of the Innocent. The image area of the cover is 13.5" x 19.5", and the art is in Excellent condition. Tuck your drool cups under your quivering chins fan-addicts, and begin the bidding! REALIZED: $29,900.

More Fun Comics #58 Mile High pedigree (DC, 1940) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white to white pages. You can see from the grade and our scan how nice-looking this comic is, so let us take this opportunity to stress how early it is -- the fact that it has an ad for Batman #1 and All-Star Comics #1 speaks volumes here. This NM copy is a great showcase for the Bernard Baily cover -- when the Spectre isn't even the most ominous-looking guy in the picture, that's pretty spooky indeed. Baily and writer Jerry Siegel teamed up for the Spectre story. Also in this issue are some of the earliest appearances of Dr. Fate and Congo Bill. This is not only the highest-graded copy that CGC has certified to date, it's the only one graded above 9.0. CGC notes, "From the collection of Nicolas Cage." REALIZED: $28,750.

More Fun Comics #62 Mile High pedigree (DC, 1940) CGC NM+ 9.6 Off-white to white pages. The Spectre was a nearly omnipotent superhero, and Bernard Baily's cover for this issue showcases the character's overwhelming power. The other heroes in this issue are not too shabby in their own right; among them are Dr. Fate and Congo Bill. Even the Spectre with all his power wouldn't be able to find a better copy of the issue than this one -- ours is not just the highest-graded copy CGC has certified to date, it's the only one graded above 9.0. From the Northern Lights Collection. REALIZED: $28,750.

Batman #6 Allentown pedigree (DC, 1941) CGC NM+ 9.6 Off-white to white pages. If you wonder why people make such a fuss about pedigree collections, a look at this stunning Allentown book will tell you how nice a comic can look if handled with the utmost care over many decades. It's a superb showcase for a Jerry Robinson cover that's a collector's favorite in any condition. If only the best will do, this qualifies on every level; one of the icons among superheroes, historical significance, eye-catching cover by one of the premier Golden Age artists, respected pedigree, and the highest-graded copy of the issue that CGC has reviewed to date. Truly one of the rare gems in this auction. Note that a small plastic stabilizing peg is loose inside the CGC holder, not affecting the comic or the integrity of the holder. REALIZED: $27,600.

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 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 1-800-872-6467, ext. 288 or Lon Allen at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 261 to discuss their rare comics and original illustration and comic art. Or visit HeritageComics.com and click on the "Sell Now" tab. Or simply email Ed Jaster at EdJ@HeritageComics.com or Lon Allen at LonA@HeritageComics.com.

Music and Hollywood memorabilia collectors should contact Doug Norwine at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 452 or email DougN@HeritageGalleries.com.

Movie poster consignors, please call Grey Smith at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 367 or email GreySm@HeritageMoviePosters.com.

To purchase a catalog for any Heritage Auction, please contact Nicole Jewell at Heritage Galleries & Auctioneers, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX, 75219 or visit HeritageComics.com to order by credit card.

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