Rare comics, original comic art, Star Wars figures and political items make a strong showing at Hake's $1.5M auction

The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Friday, March 29, 2024


Rare comics, original comic art, Star Wars figures and political items make a strong showing at Hake's $1.5M auction
Winsor McCay, original Jungle Imps art for 1903 Sunday comic strip, ‘Why the Parrot Learned to Talk,’ 19¾ x 23 1/8in., mounted on illustration board. Sold for $49,973. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions.



YORK, PA.- Hake’s first pop culture memorabilia auction of the new decade scored a solid $1.5 million, bolstered by sales of key comic books, rare original comic art, Star Wars action figures, political memorabilia, and other prized collectibles.

The March 11-12 sale boasted more than 1,600 comic books, including 300+ issues that were certified (mostly by CGC). The selection was led by Showcase #4 CGC 8.0, a coveted title that introduces the Silver Age “Flash,” one of several superheroes DC Comics reinvented in the post-WWII era. It landed within its estimate range at $75,284.

Comic books continued their impressive run with Incredible Hulk #1, CGC 5.5, with the Hulk’s origin and first appearance, powering its way to $19,275. A CGC 6.0 example of Fantastic Four #1, Signature Series Stan Lee, introducing Marvel’s first superhero team, commanded $17,700.

The auction included very rare original comic art by the legendary cartoonist Winsor McCay (American, circa 1866/71-1934). His 1903 mixed-media Sunday color page titled “Why the Parrot Learned to Talk,” featuring mischievous characters known as “The Jungle Imps,” brushed its high estimate with a selling price of $49,973. Also, McCay’s 1911 linen-mounted cartoon poster for Little Nemo reached the midpoint of its estimate range at $15,576.

A Darth Vader double-telescoping 12-back-A action figure, graded AFA 75 Ex+/NM, made $47,200. Created for Kenner’s 1978 Star Wars toy line, it was factory-packaged with an unpunched card and, significantly, a white cardboard stand beneath the figure’s feet. “It was a very early production. Only a prototype could have pre-dated it,” said Alex Winter, president of Hake’s Auctions.

Mustering many franchise favorites in a single pivotal scene – including Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and C-3PO – the original art for Page 27 of the comic book Star Wars #2 surpassed expectations at $24,272. Drawn by Howard Chaykin and inked by Steve Leialoha, the page comes from the second part of the A New Hope comic adaptation published in August 1977. Also, the original Nick Cardy cover artwork for Superboy #197, with a terrific image of the Legion of Super-Heroes battling Timberwolf, flew to $14,746.

America’s original superhero, Superman, dominates a colorful, larger-than-lifesize poster inviting guests to visit Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey, which was entered in the sale with a $5,000-$10,000 estimate. Measuring 82 by 42 inches, the poster references a 1968 comic book promotion for which three styles of posters were produced – the other two depicting Batman and Wonder Woman, respectively. “All of the posters from this promotion are very rare. This was the first example of its type that Hake’s had ever offered,” Alex Winter said. The final selling price was $14,927.

An exceptional opportunity presented itself in the form of six original paintings created as the box art for Remco’s 1980-81 series of Universal 9-inch monster action figures. The framed paintings of Frankenstein, Dracula, the Mummy, Wolfman, the Phantom of the Opera, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, which were acquired directly from sources at Remco, attracted huge pre-sale interest. They sold in total for $49,119, with “Creature” topping the group at $13,565.

Highlights from the music memorabilia category included a pair of Ringo Starr’s personally-used Gretsch drumsticks, $9,767; and a rare 1978 promotional album for AC/DC’s “PowerAge” autographed by all band members, including original vocalist Bon Scott (1946-1980). It exceeded high estimate, selling for $5,428.

Flying high over Hake’s parade of early political memorabilia, a Grant and Colfax 1868 campaign parade flag rose to $7,139 against an estimate of $2,000-$5,000. The glazed cotton flag is overprinted in bold black ink along white stripes: “U.S. Grant For President. S. Colfax For Vice President.”

An 1801 Liverpool Creamware pitcher with a portrait of Thomas Jefferson and an early version of the American Seal hammered $6,567. Hake’s catalog noted that it is likely the plate example listed in Arman’s Anglo-American Ceramics.

The March 11-12 auction was packed with desirable political campaign buttons, including a rare Theodore Roosevelt “The Winner” real-photo portrait button. Previously unlisted in Ted Hake’s Political Buttons price guides and estimated at $1,000-$2,000, it spurred competitive bidding that pushed it all the way to $4,997.
Hake’s is currently accepting consignments for a July 2020 auction.










Today's News

March 19, 2020

Met Museum prepares for $100 million loss and closure till July

Reframing the Prado

Lifetime retrospective of Jasper Johns's work to open simultaneously in New York and Philadelphia

Taschen reprints 'Les diners de Gala'

Paul Holberton Publishing releases new book featuring 18th century drawings from The Crocker Art Museum

Rare comics, original comic art, Star Wars figures and political items make a strong showing at Hake's $1.5M auction

Coronavirus: Swiss art tech company offers solution for highly affected art industry

MIA Photo Fair 2020 postponed to September

Historic 1858 Proof Liberty Eagle gold coin offered at Heritage Auctions

The Kinkade Family Foundation announces emergency grant for curators

As Studio 54 boogies to Brooklyn, its denizens look back in wonder

Modern American & European printmakers lead Prints & Drawings auction at Swann

It was their big debut. Then a pandemic hit.

Pixar pioneers win $1 million Turing Award

Meem Gallery opens third edition of its Modern Masters exhibition series

African music legend Dibango in hospital with coronavirus

Belgrade: Leading institution damaged by local politics

Maria Fernanda Cardoso awarded 2020 NSW Visual Arts Established Fellow

Complete archive of award-winning novelist Andrea Levy acquired for the nation

Stuart Whitman, leading man on big and small Screens, dies at 92

Disconcerted: A music critic's empty nights

Paris, a Magnet for the World, Becomes a Ghost City After a Lockdown Takes Effect

Rick Atkinson wins American History Book Prize

Workers behind the concert stars are hurting

Do Beginners Need Special Golf Clubs?

How to Choose the Best Comfortable Earpods?




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful