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The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 46, NO. 14 FRIDAY APRIL 3, 2015
BOLTZ AUCTION COMPANY UNEARTHS TROVE OF GOLDEN AGE COMICS Lancaster, Pa., Firm Sets House Record With Two-Part Sale single owner lifetime collection of 3,000 Golden Age comic books recently saw the light of day for the first time in over 60 years when sold by the Boltz Auction Company of Lancaster, Pa. The two-part auction brought a house record $110,000 in gross sales. The in-house portion of the sale consisted of 150 uncataloged lots. It was held on Jan. 26, at the Boltz Auction Center and drew a small crowd of avid collectors and dealers from several states. The lots consisted of 20 books each and sold, on average, for between $200 and $300, doubling and tripling their presale estimates. Several lots surpassed the $500 mark. The online portion of the sale, which was handled through Invaluable/ AuctionZip with exposure on eBay, consisted of 446 lots and closed on Jan. 30. Online bidding had opened on Jan. 16, and a live online auction began at noon on Jan. 30. The gross total was $82,500. The extensive collection consisted of
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The Marvel Tales No. 95 “The Living Death” brought $950.
This issue of Marvel Mystery Comics No. 46 “The Glass Tube of Death,” published in August 1943 with editor-in-chief Vincent Fago and cover art by Alex Schomburg, sold for $1,600. It featured the only appearance and death of the villain Moonface.
comics mainly Skull and the from the 1930s only appearand 1940s, and ance of Satan. most remained in Legendary Stan very good condiLee was the tion. The colleceditor-in-chief tion had been and the cover unknown among artist was the collecting Martin Nodell. community. “We Reaching were called to the $2,000 a day house, and they before the live were stored in bidding began, wooden shipping the bidding crates in the continued durbasement,” said ing the live Shane Gehman online auction, of the Boltz reaching a final A u c t i o n price of $4,550. Company. It is Lot 426 was believed they had C a p t a i n been stored there America Weird for roughly 60 Tales #75 “The years. “A number Thing in the of collectors have Chest,” which been asking us was also edited the name of the by Stan Lee. collection, and The cover art we have simply was by Gene decided to call it Colan, and it “The Lancaster was published Collection,” said in February G e h m a n . 1950. The issue Gehman reported This issue of Captain America No. 74 “The Red Skull sold for $1,200. fielding interna- Strikes Again” sold for $4,550. Despite the title tional interest in of this comic, the material, notebly from bidders in Japan. Captain America does not appear in this Comics and comic art, especially from the supernatural title. Lot 67 was Marvel Golden Age of comics, is a growing spe- Mystery Comics #46 “The Glass Tube of cialized field and a market that has shown Death” published in August 1943 with edistrength in recent years. tor-in-chief Vincent Fago and cover art by Included were Captain America, Alex Schomburg. It featured the only Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, as appearance and death of the villain well as key issues, first appearances, and Moonface and sold for $1,600. Lot 241 was many number one, first in series issues. The Captain America #73 “The Outcast of following are several key issues and what Time,” featuring the first appearance of the they sold for: Lot 376 was Captain America location Earth-TRN215 and the only #74 “The Red Skull Strikes Again.” It was appearances and deaths of villain Wolf the showcase piece of the sale based on its Turber and supporting character San. impressive condition. Published in October Cover artist Alfred Gabriele collaborated 1949, “The Red Skull Strikes Again” fea- on this edition, which was published in July tures the last appearance of villain Red 1949. The copy sold for $1,250. Lot 380 was Batman #59 “Batman in the Future,”
Batman No. 59 “Batman in the Future” was published in June 1950. It featured single appearances by several characters, including villains Zarro and Erkham. This copy sold for $1,025.
Captain America Weird Tales No. 75 “The Thing in the Chest,” which was published in February 1950, sold for $1,200.
published in June 1950 with cover art by Bob Kane. It featured single appearances by several characters, including villains Zarro and Erkham, as well as supporting characters Chief Rokej, John Milman, Martin, and Superintendent Smith. It sold for $1,025. Lot 442 was Marvel Tales #95 “The Living Death” and brought $950 toward the end of the online auction. Published in March 1950, with editor-inchief Stan Lee, it included “The Man on the Skylight,” “The Gypsy Curse,” “Trapped in Time,” in addition to the cover story. Lot 302 was Batman #47 “The Origin of Batman,” from June 1948 with cover art by Bob Kane, including Thomas and Martha Wayne, who die in a flashback. This key issue brought $1,100. For further information, visit www.boltzauctions.com.
The Batman No. 47 “The Origin of Batman” from June 1948 with cover art by Bob Kane, including Thomas and Martha Wayne, who die in a flashback, is considered a key issue. This copy sold for $1,100.
Captain America No. 73 “The Outcast of Time” featured the first appearance of the location Earth-TRN215 and the only appearances and deaths of villain Wolf Turber and supporting character San. The issue sold for $1,250.