DALLAS, TX.- A trove of more than 10,000 pieces of the original art for Jim Davis’ iconic Garfield comic strip, with daily strips valued upwards of $500 each, and Sunday strips considerably more, will be offered exclusively through Heritage Auctions over the coming years in a series of Signature, monthly and weekly Sunday Internet Comics, Animation and Art Auctions.

The collection features individual daily and Sunday strips by Jim Davis, the artist behind the most widely syndicated feature in the world, reaches two million readers daily. Davis created the strip in 1978.

“Garfield is one of the most popular comic strips of all time, and has been for decades,” said Jim Halperin, Co-Chairman of Heritage Auctions. “It has matured into a wildly successful franchise, evolving from the strip that has appeared in newspapers around the world to a television show, multiple movies and an empire of licensed products. Collectors who pursue these strips by Jim Davis see the opportunity to acquire an important part of comic art history.”

In November 2011, the iconic strip switched to digital production, so the ink on Bristol board Garfield originals offered by Heritage represent all that will ever be created.

“I’m very excited about my exclusive relationship with Heritage Auctions,” Davis said. “I’ve always taken my responsibility to the strip seriously (go figure), so it’s gratifying to know that I’m reaching the ‘serious’ comic collectors with the help of the fine folks at Heritage.”

In this Sunday’s Comics, Animation & Art Weekly Online Auction collectors may bid on a classic Garfield strip. Bidding is now open and the auction closes Sunday, Sept. 1.