Comics and Animation News: Spider-Man, Black Box Games, And A Record-Setting Year

Comics and Animation News [Read this newsletter online]( [Heritage Auctions]( [Comics and Animation News]( In This Issue: • [Sunday Internet Auction](#spotlight) • [Comics Department Tops $58.5 Million in 2018, Shattering Category Record](#collector-b) • [A detailed look at the Black Box Nintendo Entertainment System games](#collector-c) • [Lon Allen, Barry Sandoval Promoted to Vice President](#collector-d) • [Help Wanted: Comics Grader](#collector-e) • [Frank Frazetta's Legacy Displayed Through Memorable Buck Rogers Cover Art](#collector-f) • [Around Heritage Auctions](#around-1) • [Cover of the Week: This is Farfetched, Even For Lois Lane](#week) • [Current Auctions](#current) January 24, 2019 []Sunday Internet Auction [Sunday Internet Comics Auction]( Auction Ends: January 27, 2019 Live Session at 6:00 PM CT [We have more than 20 comic superhero videogames this week!]( [Our EC selection includes both issues of Confessions Illustrated.]( [And Spider-Man collectors have more than 100 lots to choose from in this auction!]( [The Punisher (NES, LJN, 1990) Wata 8.5 A (Seal Rating)]( Jim Lee handled the cover art for the Nintendo "Punisher" game. [Confessions Illustrated #2 Gaines File Pedigree 8/11 (EC, 1956) CGC NM+ 9.6 Cream to off-white pages]( A Bill Gaines file copy of #2. [Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC GD/VG 3.0 Off-white pages]( The highlight of any Spider-Man collection is Amazing Fantasy #15. Highlights of this week's auction include: [Jack Davis New England Patriots Football Illustration Original Art (Hot Shots, c. 1990s)]( Jack Davis New England Patriots Football Illustration Original Art (Hot Shots, c. 1990s) You'll be seriously "deflated" if you lose out on this piece. Whether your favorite Pat is Grogan or Gronk, Tatupu or Hoomanawanui, Craig James or James White, you'll want to bid aggressively on this one. Even Gisele might want one for the GOAT who has everything! "Do your job" and bid! Jack Davis crafted the design to be used for licensed products (perhaps even for grey hooded sweatshirts). The PATRIOTS logotype is a paste-up stat, placed on a separate hand-cut overlay in synch with the artwork. Image area of 9" x 11". In Excellent condition. [View]( [George Herriman The Lives and Times of Archy & Mehitabel Original Art (Doubleday Publ., 1927)]( George Herriman The Lives and Times of Archy & Mehitabel Original Art (Doubleday Publ., 1927) Caption: "...and the kings of Babylon...are covered in fleas." Herriman's brilliance ranges far beyond his most famous feature, the surreal and poetic Krazy Kat. This gem issues from the first anthology of Don Marquis' New York newspaper columns about a philosophical cockroach — the text comes from a roach-poem called "Prophecies." The classic Herriman style is irresistible in its detailed density of composition. Ink over graphite on Bristol board, with paper-clip indentations. Image area, 6" x 9". Upper marginal staining/scuffing, overall age-toning. Very Good condition. [View]( [Superman #11 (DC, 1941) CGC FN- 5.5 Off-white pages]( Superman #11 (DC, 1941) CGC FN- 5.5 Off-white pages Classic cover by Fred Ray, used on a 2006 US postage stamp. Jerry Siegel story. Leo Novak art. CGC notes, "Small amount of dried glue on cover and page 1." Overstreet 2018 FN 6.0 value = $1,047. CGC census 1/19: 12 in 5.5, 70 higher. [View]( [Eerie #10 (Avon, 1952) Condition: VG/FN]( Eerie #10 (Avon, 1952) Condition: VG/FN Al Hollingsworth cover and art. Everett Raymond Kinstler and Harry Lazarus art. Overstreet 2018 VG 4.0 value = $104; FN 6.0 value = $156. [View]( [Lady and the Tramp Trusty Animation Drawing (Walt Disney, 1955)]( Lady and the Tramp Trusty Animation Drawing (Walt Disney, 1955) Lady's neighbor, former service dog Trusty, is featured in this original 16 field 3-peghole animation drawing. Nice full-figure pose of the bloodhound with a Southern drawl, measuring 8". Art is in graphite and red pencil; the number 117 is written in the lower right corner. Good condition with paper toning and staining, with handling and edge wear. [View]( [Fantastic Four #1 (Marvel, 1961) CGC FN- 5.5 Off-white to white pages]( Fantastic Four #1 (Marvel, 1961) CGC FN- 5.5 Off-white to white pages The origin and first appearance of the Fantastic Four, Marvel's first superhero team. Also featured is the origin and first appearance of Mole Man. Jack Kirby cover and art. Currently ranked #3 on Overstreet's list of Top 50 Silver Age Comics. Overstreet 2018 FN 6.0 value = $12,000. CGC census 1/19: 48 in 5.5, 206 higher. [View]( [Batman #139 (DC, 1961) CGC VF+ 8.5 Off-white to white pages]( Batman #139 (DC, 1961) CGC VF+ 8.5 Off-white to white pages First appearance of the original Bat-Girl. Batwoman appearance. First appearance of the Blue Bowman (formerly Signalman). Sheldon Moldoff cover and art. Overstreet 2018 VF 8.0 value = $659; VF/NM 9.0 value = $1,130. CGC census 1/19: 6 in 8.5, 9 higher. [View]( [Detective Comics #359 (DC, 1967) CBCS VF/NM 9.0 White pages]( Detective Comics #359 (DC, 1967) CBCS VF/NM 9.0 White pages First appearance and origin of Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) and the first Silver Age appearance of Killer Moth. Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson cover and art. CBCS notes, "From the Clinton Collection." Overstreet 2018 VF/NM 9.0 value = $2,720; NM- 9.2 value = $4,000. [View]( [Wally Wood The King of the World Wizard King Cover Preliminary Painting Original Art (c. 1978)]( Wally Wood The King of the World Wizard King Cover Preliminary Painting Original Art (c. 1978) This beautifully detailed cover prelim showcases Wally Wood's love of the fantasy genre, and it was created for one of the best self-published sagas of its time. The King of the World, volume I of Wally Wood's The Wizard King trilogy, was similar in tone and setting to J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Wally Wood took fans on a magical journey filled with elves, warriors, wizards, maidens, Unmen, and kings. Mad and Tales from the Crypt publisher Bill Gaines called Wood "the greatest science fiction artist that ever lived." This superb mixed media Woodwork has an overall size of 17" x 21", and the art is in Excellent condition. [View]( [The Lord of the Rings Gandalf Production Cel and Animation Drawing (Ralph Bakshi, 1978)]( The Lord of the Rings Gandalf Production Cel and Animation Drawing (Ralph Bakshi, 1978) Mighty wizard Gandalf the Grey seems to have something important to say, in this original hand-painted 12 field 3-peghole production cel. The large image measures about 8.5" tall; cel is noted as 25 in the lower right corner. The matching animation drawing is included. The graphite and blue pencil drawing had been lightly stuck to the painted side of the cel, and there is some paper loss, mainly in Gandalf's hand; it's in Good condition. The cel has minor handling wear and has a tiny paint flake (from another cel) stuck near the tip of Gandalf's hat, and is in Very Good condition. [View]( [Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1 Signature Series (DC, 2016) CGC NM/MT 9.8 White pages]( Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1 Signature Series (DC, 2016) CGC NM/MT 9.8 White pages Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello story. Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson cover and art. Manufactured with "Dark Knight Universe Presents: The Atom #1" mini comic glued to insert. CGC notes, "Signed & Sketch by Frank Miller on 3/7/18 & Signed by Andy Kubert on 2/4/18, Brian Azzarello on 3/7/18 & Klaus Janson on 4/6/18". Overstreet 2018 NM- 9.2 value = $6. CGC census for Universal grades 1/19: 328 in 9.8, none higher; for Signature Series 1/19: 295 in 9.8, none higher. [View]( Our MyHeritage: [MyBids]( feature makes tracking your favorite items easier than ever. Just a reminder...our Sunday Internet Comics, Animation, and Art Auctions end with a Live Session at 6:00 PM CT. [Browse the entire auction here](. [Back to Top](#top) []Comics Department Tops $58.5 Million in 2018, Shattering Category Record [Frank Frazetta Death Dealer 6 Painting Original Art (1990)]( Sales for the [Comics & Comic Art Department at Heritage Auctions]( soared to a record $58,544,323 in 2018, with sell-through rates exceeding 99% by value and by number of lots. The total was the highest ever in the 17-year history of the department, and represented a jump of more than 32 percent over the department's previous record, which was set in 2017. Numerous records fell in 2018, further strengthening Heritage's grip on the title of the top comics and comic art auctioneer in the world. "Our results in 2018 exceeded our loftiest expectations," Heritage Auctions Co-Founder Jim Halperin said. "Part of the gratification when reflecting on 2018 is the variety of our success: we were able to realize exceptional prices on individual comic books and original art, but were fortunate that the results were not top-heavy. We also established new records for the most valuable Comics auction and most valuable Animation Art auction ever held, and set a new record with our weekly auctions three times during the year." Among the records that fell in 2018: - [Frank Frazetta's Original Art titled Death Dealer 6, 1990]( published first as the cover for Verotik's 1996 Death Dealer #2 comic book, brought $1,792,500 at Heritage's [Comics & Comic Art Auction]( May 10-12 in Chicago. That price nearly tripled the most ever paid at auction for a piece of U.S.-published comic book art. - Meanwhile, that auction's total of $12,201,974 in realized sales also set a new world record for any individual comics auction. - [Original art by John Romita, Sr., and Frank Giacoia for the Amazing Spider-Man #100]( cover drew bids from three dozen collectors before bringing $478,000, eclipsing pre-auction estimates by nearly 20 percent and establishing a new world record for the most expensive Marvel Comics Silver or Bronze Age cover ever sold at a public auction. - A new record for artwork by famed Disney artist Mary Blair was established when her [Cinderella Magic Coach Concept Painting (Walt Disney, 1950)]( drew $60,000 in Heritage's [Animation Art auction]( June 16-17 in Dallas. - A little over a month later, competitive bidding drove the final price for original art and a copy of [Kaja Foglio's Magic: The Gathering: Arabian Nights "Shahrazad" Card (Wizards of the West Coast, 1993)]( to $72,000 in the July 22 [Sunday Internet Comics, Animation & Art Auction]( a record for any Heritage Weekly Comics auction lot. Animation Art auctions were extremely strong in 2018. Heritage's [Dec. 8-9 Animation Art auction]( brought in $1,956,926, making it the most successful Animation Art in the history of the company. The sale showed the growing global love of animation art, and was highlighted by numerous record sales, including Disney, Hanna Barbera and Warner Brothers. Savvy collectors realized there was ample value to be had in Heritage's weekly Sunday Internet Comics, Animation & Art auctions. The weekly evening sales, now frequently including lots that can produce five-figure prices, established a new record for total sales three different times during the year, including in the firm's [Aug. 5]( sale that yielded a record $466,512.20. The 936-lot auction's top lot was [Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC VG- 3.5 Cream to off-white pages]( which brought $20,400. "The days of Heritage Auctions' weekly auctions offering lower-value lots exclusively are over," Halperin said. "We average about 800 lots per week, and it no longer is a rarity for some lots to crack the five-figure plateau. Our collectors know the value that exists in many of the offered materials, some of which are fresh-to-the-market personal collections. So while there always are outstanding deals to be had for collectors of all levels, our weekly auctions now include many exceptional items, which routinely set new price records." [Back to Top](#top) []A detailed look at the Black Box Nintendo Entertainment System games You probably already know that the earliest US releases of the 8-bit Nintendo console came in black boxes... but did you know about all of the different variations in these early games and how to spot them? [Excitebike (NES, Nintendo, 1985) Wata 8.5 A (Seal Rating)]( This is an example of a "black box" game. This copy sold at Heritage two weeks ago for $1,140. The experts at Wata games have written a detailed visual guide to these games. [You can read it in its entirety here](. [Back to Top](#top) []Lon Allen, Barry Sandoval Promoted to Vice President [Lon Allen Headshot]( Lon Allen Vice President of Heritage Auctions [Barry Sandoval Headshot]( Barry Sandoval Vice President of Heritage Auctions Longtime experts of [comics and comic art]( Lon Allen and Barry Sandoval have been promoted to Vice President of Heritage Auctions. Allen is in his 17th year at the world's largest comics auctioneer, and Sandoval in his 16th in the department that also includes the Animation Art and European Comic Art departments. "Lon and Barry are widely respected experts in the field of comics collecting, and are two big reasons for our status and success within the comics collecting community," Heritage Auctions Co-Chairman Jim Halperin said. "Their well-earned reputations for integrity and knowledge within the field are the result of many years of experience in every aspect of comics collecting." Allen entered the comics business on a part-time basis while attending Truman (Mo.) State University and his passion became his full-time occupation in 2000 when he started his own company, J.L.A. Comics. He joined Heritage Auctions in 2002 and became Director of Sales for the comics department in 2005. He shares his expertise within the industry as an advisor to both the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide and GPAnalysis. Most recently the department's Director of Operations, Sandoval has overseen the operations of the department that amassed a record $58 million in sales in 2018. His role has included serving as the point of contact for several multi-million-dollar collections, including the Kerby Confer Collection, the Estate of Garth Williams and an anonymous collection called A Collection of Great Cartoonists and Illustrators. The Southern Methodist University alumnus also has written and researched catalogs of high-profile lots, and is an advisor to the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. Sandoval won the CGC grading contest at Wizard World in Chicago in 2009. Allen may be contacted at 214-409-1261 or LonA@HA.com. Sandoval may be contacted at 214-409-1377 or BarryS@HA.com. Heritage Auctions' next [Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction]( is Feb. 21-23 in Dallas. To learn about additional upcoming auctions, events and consignment deadlines, visit of the vintage comics and comics art portal at Comics.HA.com. [Back to Top](#top) []Help Wanted: Comics Grader Do you have knowledge of Silver and Golden Age comic books? Then apply your analytical and research skills in our unique and fun environment. Heritage Auctions, a well-established auction house with over 40 years of longevity, is seeking a talented Comic Grader to join our Comics Department in Dallas. Heritage Auctions (HA.com) is the third largest and one of the fastest growing auction houses in the world. Heritage Auctions sales in addition to fine jewelry include: luxury accessories, watches, wine, coins, books and manuscripts, modern & contemporary art, American and European art, decorative arts, entertainment, music, and many more. More information about this position [can be found here](. Apply with us today online or via email at [Experts@HA.com](mailto:Experts@HA.com?subject=Comics Grader Position) [Back to Top](#top) []Frank Frazetta's Legacy Displayed Through Memorable Buck Rogers Cover Art [[Frank Frazetta's Legacy Displayed Through Memorable Buck Rogers Cover Art] Frank Frazetta's Legacy Displayed Through Memorable Buck Rogers Cover Art]( [Back to Top](#top) []Around Heritage Auctions [1943 Holy Grail Lincoln Penny found in teen's pocket change]( Rare 1943 Lincoln Cent Sells for $204,000 at Heritage Auctions [A rare 1943 Lincoln cent found in a teen's high school cafeteria pocket change]( sold for $204,000 Thursday evening, Jan. 10, at a [public auction of U.S. coins]( held in Orlando, Florida, by Heritage Auctions, the world's largest coin auctioneer. More than 30 bids quickly pushed the coin past its pre-auction estimate of $170,000. The rarity was mistakenly minted in bronze, instead of zinc-coated steel, which was needed to save copper and bronze to fill metal shortages during World War II. At the time, the United States Mint steadfastly denied such coins existed, until the truth came out in 1947 after teenager Don Lutes found the first bronze Lincoln cent in pocket change from his high school cafeteria in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Only 10 to 15 examples of a 1943 bronze Lincoln cent are known to exist. "This is the first time this coin had ever appeared at auction since Mr. Lutes found it when he was 16 years old," said Sarah Miller, a Director of Numismatics at Heritage Auctions who is responsible for bringing the rare coin to auction. "Collectors love obscurities and oddities, so it doesn't get better than this." The story behind the 1943 bronze cent transcends the coin-collecting hobby. A small number of bronze blanks, or planchets, were caught in the trap doors of the mobile tote bins used to feed the Mint's coin presses at the end of 1942. These few planchets went unnoticed and were fed into the coin press along with the steel wartime blanks (popularly referred to as "steelies"). The few resulting "copper" cents were lost in the flood of millions of "steel" cents and escaped detection by the Mint. They quietly slipped into circulation, to amaze collectors and confound Mint officials for years to come. Shortly after the white-colored zinc-coated steel cents were put in circulation, rumors of extremely rare 1943 "copper pennies" began to circulate. The coin became so famous that it was once falsely reported Henry Ford would give a new car to anyone who could provide him with a 1943 "copper" cent. Lutes contacted the Ford Motor Company but was told the story was, indeed, nothing but a rumor. He also placed an inquiry with the Treasury Department and received the standard 26-word reply the Mint sent to all collectors requesting information on the 1943 bronze cents: "In regard to your recent inquiry, please be informed that copper pennies were not struck in 1943. All pennies struck in 1943 were zinc coated steel." Unfortunately, Lutes died in September, 2018, before he could watch his coin make history or learn its true market value. Miller said Heritage Auctions is working with the estate to honor Lutes' wish that all proceeds from the sale are donated to the Berkshire Athenaeum at Pittsfield's Public Library, where Lutes was active for so many years. [More information about Coins Auctions]( [Back to Top](#top) []Cover of the Week: This is Farfetched, Even For Lois Lane [Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #72 (DC, 1967) CBCS VF 8.0 White pages]( The best-equipped piece of wreckage of all time is just one curious part of this remarkable, and remarkably absurd, cover premise! This is Lois Lane #72, and we're auctioning a high-grade copy this week that [you can bid on here](. [Back to Top](#top) []Current Auctions Comic & Comic Art Auctions [Sunday Internet Comics Auction]( [Sunday Comics]( January 27 Live session @ 6PM CT OTHER SIGNATURE AUCTIONS • [1933 Goudey PSA Set Registry Catalog - Jan. 24]( • [Long Beach Expo US Coins - Jan. 31-Feb. 3]( OTHER INTERNET AUCTIONS • [Thur. Natural History - Jan. 24]( • [Sun. Movie Posters - Jan. 27]( • [Sun. Sports - Jan. 27]( • [Tues. Jewelry - Jan. 29]( • [Tues. World Currency - Jan. 29]( • [Tues. US Currency - Jan. 29]( • [Weekly US Coins - Jan. 29-30]( • [Wed. Prints & Multiples - Jan. 30]( • [Thur. World Coins - Jan. 31]( [Auction Schedule]( | [Order a Catalog]( [Back to Top](#top) [] DEPARTMENTS [Art & Antiques]( [Books]( [Coins]( [Comics]( [Currency]( [Domain Names & Intellectual Property]( [Entertainment & Music]( [Historical]( [Jewelry & Timepieces]( [Luxury Accessories]( [Movie Posters]( [Nature & Science]( [Real Estate]( [Sports]( [Stamps]( [Wine]( [Charity Auctions]( [] SERVICES [Free Auction Evaluation]( [Appraisal Services]( [Trusts and Estates]( [Auction Archives]( [Other Resources]( MY HERITAGE [My Bids]( [My TrackedLots]( [My Wantlist]( [My Profile]( [My Collection]( [My Consignments]( [My Orders]( [Consign Now]( [Lon Allen]( [1-800-872-6467 x1261](tel:1-800-872-6467) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [YouTube]( [Blog]( Heritage Auctions / Bid@HA.com / 3500 Maple Ave / Dallas, Texas 75219 / [1-877-HERITAGE (437-4824)](tel:1-800-872-6467) • Copyright © 1999 - 2019 Heritage Capital Corporation / All Rights Reserved Note: When calling or emailing us, please reference your client number: 3434334 [Forward to a Friend]( [Unsubscribe me permanently from all marketing emails]( Never miss an email! 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