DALLAS, TX.- Collectors will have an option to pursue an exceptional assortment of comics and comic art at
Heritage Auctions' Comics & Comic Art Auction Nov. 16-18 in Beverly Hills, California.
Part of the allure in the auction is the fact that many of the lots including several of those carrying six-figure pre-auction estimates come from the Douglas Schmell pedigreecomics.com Collection. Owner of one of best-known high-end comic book auction firms, Pedigree Comics, Schmell previously consigned his personal collection through Heritage, a decision that laid the groundwork for the current consignment from his company.
"Doug Schmell is familiar with every selling option in the hobby, so the fact that he chose us once again to auction part of his collection is something we're very proud of," said Heritage Auctions Senior Vice President Ed Jaster.
Schmell said that the success he had selling his personal collection made the decision to return to Heritage an easy one.
"I've been buying and selling comics from and through Heritage since 2001," Schmell said. "When I decided to part with my personal collection back in 2012, Heritage was my only choice and they wound up setting a world record for my books. It was only fitting to use them to sell these other gems I have acquired since then."
The top lot might well be Tales of Suspense #39 (Marvel, 1963) CBCS NM+ 9.6 white pages. The origin and first appearance of Iron Man makes this a coveted issue and pushed it to No. 8 on Overstreet's "Top 50 Silver Age Comics" list.
The fourth-most valuable Marvel Silver Age comic, this copy of Journey Into Mystery #83 (Marvel, 1962) CGC NM 9.4 white pages from the pedigreecomics.com Collection has the second-highest grade ever offered by Heritage. The origin and first appearance of Thor should remain in high demand given the success of the current Thor: Ragnarok movie.
Alsofrom the Schmell collection,Showcase #22 Green Lantern (DC, 1959) CGC NM- 9.2 cream to off-white pages, is one of the most remarkable Silver Age DCs ever offered through Heritage, as this is the highest-graded copy of the origin and first appearance of the Silver Age Green Lantern, Hal Jordan.
This copy ofShowcase #4 The Flash (DC, 1956) CGC VF+ 8.5, from the pedigreecomics.com Collection, is an exceptional copy with white pages. This issue is ranked No. 4 in Overstreet's "Top 50 Silver Age Comics" list and has enjoyed enough of a surge in collector demand that it could climb up a spot on Overstreet's next ranking. Not only does the Flash have multiple TV seasons to his credit in the meantime, he also is featured in trailers for the upcoming Justice League movie.
Fantastic Four #1 (Marvel, 1961) CGC VF/NM 9.0 off-white to white pages has the second-highest grade of all copies ever offered by Heritage. No. 3 on the current Overstreet's "Top 50 Silver Age Comics" list, Fantastic Four #1 launched the Marvel Age in 1951, paving the way for Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and several other superheroes. This issue is the origin and first appearance of the Fantastic Four Marvel's first superhero team by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.
Detective Comics #33 (DC, 1939) CGC VF 8.0 cream to off-white pages carries an uncommonly high grade on one of the Golden Age's top comics. No. 16 on Overstreet's 2017 "Top 100 Golden Age Comics" list, Batman makes his fourth cover appearance on the issue in which his origin is described. Cover art is done by Bob Kane; Fred Guardineer, Kane and Sheldon Moldoff provide the story art.
Other top lots include, but are not limited to:
· The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM 9.4 off-white to white pages.
· Detective Comics #31 (DC, 1939) CGC VG/FN 5.0 off-white to white pages .
· Hal Foster Prince Valiant #4 Sunday Comic Strip Original Art dated 3-6-37 (King Features Syndicate, 1937).
· Neal Adams Detective Comics #407 Cover Man-Bat Original Art (DC, 1971).