Miller Dark Knight Page, Gary Dahlberg, and Sprang Batman #30 Cover at Heritage Auctions
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From the press release:
Frank Miller Dark Knight Splash Page, The Gary Dahlberg Collection and Dick Sprang Batman #30 Cover Art Anchor Comics Event at Heritage Auctions
May 5-6 New York auction will also feature Peanuts try out strip from family of Frieda Rich, the inspiration for Schulz’s “Frieda”; Albert Morse Collection of 1960s Underground Comix
DALLAS, TX — The original splash art from page 10, issue #3 of Frank Miller and Klaus Janson’s The Dark Knight Returns is expected to bring more than $100,000 as the top lot in Heritage Auctions’ May 5-6 New York Signature® Vintage Comics & Comic Art Auction at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion (Ukranian Institute), 2 East 79th Street (at 5th Ave).
“There is no doubt that this is the single most important piece of 1980s comic art that Heritage has ever offered,” said Todd Hignite, Consignment Director at Heritage, “and it’s certainly one of the most important pieces of 1980s comic art that exists, period. We expect that the top collectors know that as well and will bid accordingly.”
The Gary Dahlberg Collection, whose namesake died tragically in a fire almost a year ago at the age of 62, will mark the debut of the Twin Cities pedigree at auction. The collection, all told, is valued at more than $1 million and is chock-full of near mint Silver Age gems such as The Amazing Spider-Man #2 Twin Cities pedigree (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM+ 9.6 White pages, estimated at $75,000+, probably the most desirable comic book of the entire Twin Cities pedigree.
“When I first saw images of Gary’s comics I thought it had a chance to be one of the best collections Heritage had ever offered,” said Ed Jaster, Senior Vice President of Heritage, “and when I saw the comics in person I knew it for sure. It’s definitely the best Silver Age Marvel collection we’ve sold.”
Original Batman cover art always brings a premium, and few pieces more so than any cover the originates in the 1940s, thus making the appearance of the original cover art for Batman #30, by legendary artist Dick Sprang, a hotly anticipated lot. It carries a pre-auction estimate of $40,000+.
The Albert Morse Collection represents an important grouping of a whole other kind, as Morse was a famed Bay Area attorney who worked with many cartoonists in the underground comix scene during the 1970s and subsequently compiled one of the very best original underground art collections in the nation, populated by the biggest names in the genre. One of the principle highlights of the grouping is sure to be Robert Crumb Morse’s Funnies Cover Original Art, published by Morse himself in 1974, which is expected to bring $25,000+.
One of the most intriguing highlights of the auction is a previously unknown Charles Schulz Peanuts “Tryout Strip,” consigned by the family of Frieda Rich, a close friend of Schulz’s, and the inspiration for the character of Frieda, whose naturally curly hair was the envy of all that knew her – or at least so the character of Frieda thought. It is estimated at $25,000+.
Jack Kirby’s Thor pinup from Journey Into Mystery #110, estimated at $30,000+, is likely to strike collectors of original comic art as the Holy Grail of Thor artwork, as this image – used so many times over the decades since its creation – is the definitive piece of Thor art done by Jack “the King” Kirby at the very height of his power as an artist.
Neal Adams’ original cover art from Savage Sword of Conan #2, featuring some of the very best work the legendary Adams ever did, is expected to be the subject of spirited bidding when it comes up for bid, with a $20,000+ estimate, while two rare items featuring the Yellow Kid, the first-ever comic character – George Luks Hand Colored Yellow Kid Sketch Original Art (1898), estimated at $5,000+ and The Yellow Kid in McFadden’s Flats #nn (G. W. Dillingham Co., 1897), estimated at $10,000+ – are both already generating significant buzz among high end collectors of early comic book relics.
Related posts:
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- Rare Anti-Communist Comics at Heritage Auctions
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