Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries’ most recent auction of vintage comic books and original comic art realized $2,842,372 for 1,714 lots, although after-auction sales are still ongoing and are expected to push the final total to even higher levels.

“This auction heavily spotlighted original art, so it’s no surprise that it’s that area that brought our top prices realized,” said Ed Jaster, Vice-President for Dallas-based Heritage.”

“We’ve been very successful selling the paintings of beloved artist Carl Barks in past auctions,” Jaster said, ” and this time out was no exception. Barks’s oil painting, Return to Plain Awful, was the top lot of the weekend with $119,500 realized. Additionally, Disputed Claim, another fine Duck painting, sold for $89,625.”

“The big news, however, was the astonishing new record set for the sale of a Schulz Peanuts original,” Jaster said. “The baseball-themed Sunday, dated 4-10-55, offered in our auction brought an unheard of $113,525, making it the first time that an original by this renowned artist has broken the six-figure barrier. Prices for Schulz art have been on an upswing lately, as can easily be seen in results like this.”

“Just as impressive was the $101,575 realized by Robert Crumb’s original art for the cover of the landmark Mr. Natural #1,” Jaster said. “The leading artist of the underground comic’s movement, Crumb art has also been appreciating steadily over the last few years, and we expect interest in his work to continue to skyrocket.”

“Collectors of Modern Age art had plenty to chose from,” Jaster said, “with a page from The Killing Joke by Brian Bolland bringing a solid $31,070, and Alex Schomburg’s image of Captain America, the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner, painted as the cover of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #10 in 1980, brought $38,837.”

“Comics also performed well,” said Jaster, “especially Golden Age keys, such as Flash Comics #1, CGC-graded FN+ 6.5 with cream to off-white pages, which brought $33,460. Spirit sections were strong across the board, with a complete set of 1949 sections, in average VF/NM condition, bringing $10,755. Of course, interest continues to be strong in high-grade Silver Age, as seen by the $2,868, a price representing nine times current Guide values, realized for a copy of Superman #140, CGC-graded NM- 9.2 with off-white pages.”

“Overall, the auction exceeded all our expectations,” Jaster said. “We’re already hard at work on our next auction, which interested collectors can follow by visiting our website at www.HA.com. That’s where they’ll find full-color, enlargeable images of each and every auction lot, accompanied by our complete catalog descriptions. As the auction draws nearer, they’ll even be able to bid online.”

Heritage’s next Vintage Comic and Comic Art auction will be held February 27-29, 2008, in Dallas, Texas.

Carl Barks - “Return To Plain Awful” Oil Painting Original Art (1989):REALIZED: $119,500

Charles Schulz - Peanuts Sunday Comic Strip Original Art, dated 4-10-55 (United Feature Syndicate, 1955):REALIZED: $113,525

Robert Crumb - Mr. Natural #1 Cover Original Art (San Francisco Comic Book Co./Apex, 1970):REALIZED: $101,575

Carl Barks - “Disputed Claim” Oil Painting Original Art (circa 1976):REALIZED: $89,625

Marvel Comics #1 Larson pedigree (Timely, 1939) CGC VF 8.0 Off-white to white pages:REALIZED: $89,625

Alex Schomburg - Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #10 Cover Featuring Captain America, The Human Torch, And The Sub-Mariner Original Art (1980):REALIZED: $38,837

Flash Comics #1 (DC, 1940) CGC FN+ 6.5 Cream to off-white pages:REALIZED: $33,460

Brian Bolland - Batman: The Killing Joke, page 47 Original Art (DC, 1988):REALIZED: $31,070

Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott - Fantastic Four #57, page 12 Original Art (Marvel, 1966):REALIZED: $31,070

Charles Schulz - Peanuts Daily Comic Strip Original Art, dated 11-9-66 (United Feature Syndicate, 1966):REALIZED: $28,680

Hal Foster - Tarzan Sunday Comic Strip Original Art, dated 7-10-32 (United Features Syndicate, 1932):REALIZED: $27,485

Alex Ross - Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #29 Cover Featuring Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes Original Art (1999):REALIZED: $26,290

The Spirit (weekly newspaper insert) 1949 Complete Year (Baltimore Sun, 1949) Condition: Average VF/NM:REALIZED: $10,755

Superman #140 (DC, 1960) CGC NM- 9.2 Off-white pages:REALIZED: $2,868

Prospective consignors and sellers of Comics and Comic Art are invited to www.HA.com/Sell. Or simply email Ed Jaster at EdJ@HA.com, or call 1-800-872-6467, ext. 1288.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Client Services at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 1150, or visit www.HA.com/Catalog to order by email.

Posted: 12|14|07 at 9:53 am. Filed under: Press Release.