Dallas, TX – Some of the world’s most valuable comic books, collected by a Denver media executive, will be offered in a public auction by Heritage Auction Galleries of Dallas, Texas (www.HA.com) on May 22, 2008. Described as the most complete collection of the world’s top comic books, it includes the 1938 first appearance of Superman and the 1939 first appearance of Batman, as well as the first appearances of such later superstars as Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four.
The collection of rarities, assembled by Denver broadcasting executive Rich Kylberg, is valued at well over $500,000, and all lots will be auctioned without reserve.
“It’s one thing to see a list of the most valuable comic books and quite another to actually see all of these comics in front of you,” said Heritage Vice-President Ed Jaster. “Anyone who collects comics always wants the issue that had a given character’s first printed appearance, and that particular issue of a series is almost invariably the most expensive to acquire. Mr. Kylberg’s outstanding collection also includes the first comic book appearances of Captain America, Green Lantern, and the Flash, and he’s got nice copies of most of the key Silver Age comics as well, most notably the 1960s debuts of Spider-Man and the Hulk, and other gems like a Near Mint Plus copy of Richie Rich #1.”
“I can’t think of a major character that’s not represented here,” Jaster said, “Mickey Mouse, Wonder Woman, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, even the likes of the Sandman, Aquaman, the Hour-Man, and the Punisher. I could go on and on.”
A lifelong comic collector, Mr. Kylberg’s success in business enabled him to take his collecting to an elite level. “At some point, I thought: why don’t I buy really beautiful copies of every key comic book?” Mr. Kylberg said. “It was very challenging and frankly very expensive, but at no time was it about investment, or anything other than compiling a collection of absolute key comics. For the last five or ten years these books have been in a vault, and it’s time for them to be in the hands of someone who’s going to enjoy them.”
Jaster noted that consignments of Golden and Silver Age comics and original comic art are still being accepted through the April 7 deadline.
Highlights of the collection include:
Action Comics #1 First appearance of Superman. Est. $75,000-up
Detective Comics #27 First appearance of Batman. Est. $60,000-up
Marvel Comics #1 The first Marvel comic book; first appearances of the Human Torch and Sub-Mariner. Est. $35,000-up
Superman #1 First series devoted to one comic-book character. Est. $35,000-up
All-American Comics #16 Green Lantern’s first appearance. Est. $15,000-up
Batman #1 First appearances of the Joker and Catwoman. Est. $15,000-up
Captain America Comics #1 First appearance of Captain America; Classic cover shows Cap punching Adolf Hitler. Est. $15,000-up
Flash Comics #1 First appearances of the Flash and Hawkman. Est. $30,000-up
More Fun Comics #52 Tough-to-find first appearance of the Spectre. Est. $5,000-up
Whiz Comics #2 First appearance of Captain Marvel (later known as Shazam). Est. $10,000-up
Heritage’s Vintage Comic and Comic Art auction will be held February 28-29, 2008, in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please visit www.HA.com.
Prospective consignors and sellers of Comics and Comic Art are invited to www.HA.com/Sell. Or simply email Ed Jaster at [email protected], or call 1-800-872-6467, ext. 1261.
