Heritage Comics Auction Posts Super Results!

Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries' latest Comic Book and Original Comic Art Signature Auction, held May 3 & 4, 2007 in Dallas, Texas, realized $2,670, 420 for 1,986 lots, although after-auction sales are still ongoing and are expected to raise the total to even higher levels.

"This was one of our strongest auctions ever," said Ed Jaster, Vice-President for Heritage, "with exceptional results in all categories. Bidding was extremely active, both on the floor and on the phone, which signifies a healthy overall market."

Jaster said, "Perhaps because of all the media attention paid to Spider-Man recently, with Spider-Man 3 breaking all box office records this weekend, books featuring everyone's favorite wall-crawler sold for far above our pre-auction estimates. A good example is the Janowicz copy of Amazing Spider-Man #37, CGC-graded NM 9.4 with white pages, which sold for $6,572, an astounding 18 times Guide and quadruple the GPAnalysis price! Particularly fought over were Spider-Man books from the Curator pedigree, a collection known for its outstanding page quality."

"There's no doubt that Silver Age comics were the king of this auction," Jaster said, "with many books from this period selling for many multiples of Guide. A copy of Batman #182, CGC-graded NM+ 9.6 with white pages sold for $3,585 or 26 times the top of Guide, while a copy of X-Men #27, CGC-graded NM/MT 9.8 with white pages also brought 26 times Guide with a price realized of $5,078."

"Speaking of exceptional prices," Jaster said, "I should mention the Janowicz collection, one of our featured collections, which realized over $240,000, and that's only the beginning! There will be more books from the Janowicz collection in upcoming Comic auctions, as well as an assortment of classic movie posters in our next Vintage Movie Poster Signature auction."

"Of course, the keystone books sold well," said Jaster. "Advanced collectors are always looking for an opportunity to add nice copies of such important books as Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #27 and Marvel Comics #1 to their collections, and this auction presented exceptional copies of all of those."

"Original art is as hot as ever," said Jaster. "In this auction, we were proud to present the Jack Kirby/Joe Sinnott original cover art for the landmark Fantastic Four #100. Presenting a veritable who's who of FF villainy, this cover sold for a fantastic $56,762. Also impressive was the $47,800 realized for a 19656 Peanuts Sunday page. Other notable original art results included a five-page Steve Ditko story, The Face, from Tales of Suspense #26, which brought $28,082, and a John Romita Spider-Man illustration from the fondly-remembered 1975 Marvel calendar fetched $11,950."

"All in all," Jaster said, "this was an exceptional event, one that makes me look forward all the more to our next Signature auction. I'd invite everyone to visit our website, www.HA.com, where you can watch our auction grow, view enlargeable, full-color images of each and every lot, read our complete and informative catalog descriptions, and even place your bids online from the comfort and convenience of your home or office."

Heritage Auction Galleries' next Comics Signature Auction will be held August 2-4, 2007 in their Dallas, Texas headquarters.

Action Comics #1 (DC, 1938) CGC Apparent VF 8.0 Moderate (P) Cream to off-white pages:
REALIZED: $65,725

Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott - Fantastic Four #100 Cover Original Art (Marvel, 1970):
REALIZED: $56,762

Detective Comics #27 (DC, 1939) CGC FN/VF 7.0 Moderate (P) Off-white to white pages:
REALIZED: $50,787

Carl Barks - "Eureka! A Goose Egg Nugget" Painting Original Art (1996):
REALIZED: $47,800

Charles Schulz - Peanuts Sunday Comic Strip Original Art, dated 6-13-65 (United Features Syndicate, 1965):
REALIZED: $47,800

Marvel Comics #1 Kansas City pedigree (Timely, 1939) CGC Apparent FN/VF 7.0 Slight (P) Off-white to white pages:
REALIZED: $41,825

Robert Crumb - Arcade #14 Sketchbook Original Art (1961):
REALIZED: $35,850

The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Marvel, 1963) CGC VF/NM 9.0 White pages:
REALIZED: $31,070

Superman #1 (DC, 1939) CGC Apparent FN/VF 7.0 Slight (P) Off-white to white pages:
REALIZED: $31,070

Steve Ditko - Tales of Suspense #26 Complete 5-page Story "The Face" Original Art (Marvel, 1961):
REALIZED: $28,082

The Amazing Spider-Man #37 (Marvel, 1966) CGC NM 9.4 White pages:
REALIZED: $6,572

Batman #182 (DC, 1966) CGC NM+ 9.6 Off-white pages:
REALIZED: $3,585

X-Men #27 (Marvel, 1966) CGC NM/MT 9.8 White pages:
REALIZED: $5,078

John Romita Sr. - Spider-Man Calendar Illustration Original Art (Marvel, 1975):
REALIZED: $11,950

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.HA.com.

Heritage 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 www.HA.com/Sell. Or simply email Ed Jaster at EdJ@HA.com or Lon Allen at LonA@HA.com.

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

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

To reserve your copy of a catalog for any upcoming Heritage auction, please visit www.HA.com/Catalog, or contact Client Services, c/o Heritage Auction Galleries, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219, or call 1-800-872-6467, ext. 150.