Auctions | July 27, 2017

Robert Crumb Cover Art Set to Lead Heritage Auctions' Vintage Comic Event

DALLAS, Texas (July 26, 2017) - Thought lost for more than a generation, a cover to Zap Comix #1 - a masterpiece of Underground Comix art by master Robert Crumb - may sell for as much as $100,000 in Heritage Auctions’ Aug. 10-12 Comics & Comic Art Auction in Dallas. The three-day event features early, key books in high-grade condition and original comic art never before seen at auction.  

“According to singer/songwriter Graham Nash, who has owned this art for many years, the Zap #1 cover is a very important piece in the arc of Robert's journey as a great artist,” said Ed Jaster, Vice President at Heritage Auctions. “This long-lost piece is a wonder to behold." 

A Mile High Pedigree copy of Science Comics #2 (Fox, 1940) graded at a CGC 9.2 is on offer and is expected to surpass $25,000. This classic Lou Fine Dynamo cover is 77 years old, and the next-highest-graded copy to come to public auction was a FN- 5.5 in 2008. 

Wonder Woman’s first appearance in All Star Comics #8 (DC, 1942) may cross the block for roughly $75,000. In addition to All Star Comics #8, the first appearance of the Justice Society of America in All Star Comics #3 (DC, 1940) CGC 5.5 FN- copy is being offered, as well, and could exceed $25,000.

The Amazing Spider-Man #14 (Marvel, 1964), graded NM/MT 9.8 by CGC, is expected to sell for at least $60,000, and The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Marvel 1963), Stan Lee Verified Signature, graded by CBCS at a 9.0 is projected to realize $40,000.

Heritage’s first-ever presentation of Steve Ditko’s Doctor Strange artwork -  Strange Tales #141 Page 8 Original Art - features not only the good doctor, but also the Ancient One and Dormammu (est. $45,000). X-Men #2 Page 6 Original Art depicts the first appearance of the evil mutant The Vanisher, and is expected to cross the block at $35,000. A Tarzan Comic Strip Original Art from Hal Foster in 1933 depicts Tarzan’s face-off against the “Waters of Death” (est. $30,000). 

Watchmen #12 Story Page 3 (DC, 1987) is expected to surpass $25,000, and this is not the only Watchmen original art in the auction. Other Watchmen original art gems that will be available include Watchmen #8 Story Page 24 (est. $20,000) and Watchmen #11 Story Page 24 (est. $20,000).

Additional highlights include, but are not limited to:

o   Dick Sprang The Batcave Revealed Batman and Robin original art: est. $25,000

o   Thor #197 21-Page Story original art: est. $20,000

o   Richard F. Outcault Buster Brown Sunday Comic Strip from May 31, 1903: est. $35,000

o   The Amazing Spider-Man #5 (Marvel, 1963) CBCS NM+ 9.6: est. $25,000

o   Detective Comics #35 (DC, 1940) CGC VG+ 4.5: est. $50,000

o   Masked Marvel #2 Mile High Pedigree (Centaur, 1940) CGC NM 9.4: est. $12,500

Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Chicago, Palm Beach, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam and Hong Kong.

The Internet’s most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has over one million registered bidder-members, and searchable free archives of four million past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos.