The Mile High Pedigree copy of Suspense Comics #3 is expected to highlight a high-end selection of comics and comic art in Heritage Auctions’ inaugural Comics Platinum Night session on Thursday, May 18, in New York City. The evening session will kick off a three-day, 1,300-lot event on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 18, 19, and 20, that will include original Underground Comix art, original cover art, and scarce key books spanning every genre.
“Heritage has successfully held Platinum Night auctions in its U.S. coins and sports auctions, and we decided the time is right to extend the practice to our comics offerings as well,” said Barry Sandoval, director of operations for comics and comic art for Heritage Auctions. “Just 83 lots will comprise our first Platinum Night, and we think collectors will relish the selection we’ve assembled for them.” The auction will take place at the Omni Berkshire Hotel at 21 E. 52nd St., with live online bidding and phone bidding also available.
Suspense #3, 9.2 CBCS, a white-hot Golden Age issue, driven by the cover art by Alex Schomburg, could sell for as much as $200,000 in the evening session. High-grade copies of The Avengers #4, 9.8 CGC, are expected to end at $120,000, and a near mint copy of The Avengers #1, 9.4 CGC, is expected to spark spirited bidding and a $100,000 auction price due to its high grade and the first appearance of the Avengers (Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Ant-Man and Wasp), as well as appearances by Loki, the Teen Brigade and the Fantastic Four.
With her own movie coming this summer, the amazing amazon Wonder Woman never has been more popular, and a copy of Wonder Woman #1, 7.5 CGC, could sell for as much as $100,000, surpassing price guide expectations. A scarce, high-grade copy of The Amazing Spider-Man #1, 9.2 CGC Massachusetts Pedigree, may bring $90,000, while the first appearance of Iron Man from Tales of Suspense #39, 9.4 CGC Bethlehem Pedigree, also could sell for $90,000.
A Platinum Night selection of important original comic art features Robert Crumb’s iconic “Fritz the Cat” cover original art (Ballantine, 1969) – a famous Underground Comix cover image also used to promote the character’s two animated films – is expected to sell for $150,000-$250,000. Another specialty art offering includes Frank Frazetta’s “Battlestar Galactica” painting original art titled “In Pharaoh’s Tomb,” 1978, a fantastic oil published as an advertisement for the fan-favorite TV show, which could surpass $100,000.
Original comic and comic strip art ranges from Steve Ditko’s Amazing Spider-Man #23 story page 17 featuring a classic skirmish with the Green Goblin, which could sell for $100,000 to Alex Raymond’s Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim Sunday comic strip original art dated 2-26-39 (King Features Syndicate, 1939), which may bring $70,000.
Two special pieces of art by Jack “King” Kirby include Fantastic Four #11 Sub-Mariner pin-up original art, which could bring $50,000, and Thor #136 cover original art, which could sell for $40,000.
Additional Platinum Night highlights include, but are not limited to, Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen #2 cover original art (est. $40,000-plus), the bombastic page 3 original art from X-Men #2 by Kirby and Paul Reinman (est. $50,000-plus), and The Incredible Hulk #1, 8.0 CGC, (est. $75,000-plus).
For more information, visit www.HA.com.