aokartman

I worked for the USPS for 25 years. I can attest to the possibility of delays due to local management. We used to stack pallets of subscription periodicals (weeklies, monthlies) in an unused corner of the facility for weeks at a time during one extended period of staffing/volume issues. Local customers starting getting suspicious when they were receiving two or three weekly magazines of the same title on the same delivery day from their carrier. David

No, just an image swipe from comics.org. David

Cool book! It is indeed fun to find out more about the art you pick up here and there. Best, David

Now this one is bugging me a little bit, with the image off-center from the published version, so the final shot cover must have been a mechanical with art added on the left. Curious about the 1984 Marvel copyright stamp on the reverse, too. Still great. David

I sent them a note. It looks like it should be 1978, as on the art. David

try this LINK to show and prices Mike Burkey's Doc Ock cover? Lots of great art, well worth checking out, still looking. David

Wow. My condolences to the family, someone must have died for that beauty to come into the open. Later trade dress will have no effect on the value here, IMO. Easy $100K plus vig. David

Being the title page with indicia is also a nice positive, IMO. David

Thank you for that reminder. It is another great reason why I believe the future of all US-derived original comic art is bright. An uptick from other strong buying cohort(s) could hoover up entire genres of OA at current prices if they so desired. Might already be happening. David

I am optimistic that all current values for original comic art will be exceeded within the next 20 years. let's say, in raw dollars. But, I try to think of a single piece I've sold or seen which has achieved a price which it will not surpass over 20 years. In comic art, nothing I've sold is worth less today, even outliers. So, I broadened to a quick Heritage archive search and found this by Sherrie Levine.... Now, I don't know the owner or the artist or the seller, but $16,250 seems like it might be as high as this could go in 20 years. Who knows? In 20 years $16K might be chump change for many more collectors than today. David

Agree, that is the type of acquisition that is ripe for disappointment from an investment perspective. However, I suspect there are collectors in a similar vein that don't care, and are perfectly happy about their collection regardless of the return on investment. I put myself in that category; I don't have any regrets about past art purchases. It is entertaining to watch movement over the years, and I certainly re-examine my collection in a new light from time to time, but I don't dwell on it. Maybe it's just my personality. David

Stop dumping on my Dillin! JLA 100, inked by Giella. David

I thought my Blondie 1950s art by Chic Young was in the dustbin of history, but there have been some decent sales recently, so sometimes art can go down, then return to its former glory in some collectors' eyes. David

Sold, thanks! Raw with writing on cover and dampstain. Thanks for checking it out! Best wishes, David LINK TO DAREDEVIL 7 AUCTION/OFFER - EBAY

Bump for ending in a couple hours, sorry for the short notice! David

Sorry, I was looking at a different lot. Yours like you said was from 1994, hard to imagine the estate got it that messed up, but maybe. Good luck, David

Sure looks like Sgt. Rock 302 to me. David

"orange ape" Joe Staton. David

LINK TO BIG BEN BOLT EBAY AUCTION Only $199.00 to start! SOLD, thanks! Thanks for checking this out! Here is a nice April 1, 1955 (no foolin'!) original comic strip art for Big Ben Bolt by John Cullen Murphy for King Features Syndicate. Scarce and worthy piece I am selling to support my balance sheet. $500 total for this boards-only offer includes sturdy Priority shipping (US only, thanks). I accept check, money order, and Paypal. Gill Fox Estate and April Fool's Day give this a little bump! Claim in the thread. Questions and comments welcome in the thread or send me a personal message. Best, David S. Albright

Exactly. I preface my reply with, "I am a collector, too, so any price would at least reflect the current value." Usually works to weed out the predators. David

I just got this Eek And Meek by Howie Schneider! David

LINK TO THE LEE LUCY AUCTION Thanks, and here's the link to the signed Lucy original comic art which I timed to end on the day of our big yard sale this morning ($1000, yay!). Here's a nice chance for you on this nice piece of opaque color paint on paper 11 X 17 character rendering from the classic Peanuts comic strip. Check it out! Best, David S. Albright

Just for fun, let's say you spent a while amassing a special collection of things, and eventually have to let it go at a fraction of what you paid. If you haven't got a record of the basis of your cost, you could be on the hook for substantial hobby income, even if you liquidate at a loss. Curious what extent the government wants to seek taxes on that type of "income". David

I wonder when the auction houses will start sending out 1099s. David

It might have been due to my lack of useful activity with them. I throw in a bid now and then at the weekly auctions, but the Signature Auctions are out of my range these days. David