aokartman

Link to recreated Owsley Art Hanna-Barbera This reminds me of the Patrick Owsley art, and who knows how many of these Hanna-Barbera pieces he has created?

I had an OK experience with Joe back in the day. Interesting he has their full backing and support! All should go well. David

You are here: Home / Around the Hobby / Mastro Released from Federal Prison Camp Mastro Released from Federal Prison Camp June 12, 2017 By Rich Mueller Former Mastro Auctions CEO Bill Mastro was released from the federal prison camp at Pekin, IL last month. Bill Mastro According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Mastro would have served about 18 months of a 20-month sentence handed down last August, two years after he admitted to various types of fraud from 2002-2009 including an ongoing shill bidding scheme. He began serving his sentence in late November 2015. Doug Allen In a pre-sentence memoradum, the Chicago area resident pledged through his attorneys that he would never again work in the sports memorabilia business. He paid a $250,000 fine prior to his sentencing. Another Mastro employee, Mark Theotikos, is scheduled to be released Wednesday after serving approximately 10 months of his one-year sentence for mail fraud. Theotikos has been serving his time at the federal camp in Marion, IL. Former Mastro president Doug Allen is in the Pekin camp and will serve the longest time in federal custody of any of those involved in the case. In February 2016, Allen was sentenced to 57 months. He has served 13 months thus far. According to the Bureau of Prisons, he’s eligible for early release on June 30, 2019. Update: Prison records indicate Allen was released on July 5, 2019. Above clipped from Sports Collectors Daily. So, it happens you can't necessarily commit fraud and get away with it. Hence, the full disclosure, albeit in fine print, about bidding at auctions. If they tell you they are doing it, it isn't fraud. 13. Notice of the consignor’s liberty to place bids on his lots in the Auction is hereby made in accordance with Article 2 of the Texas Business and Commercial Code. A “Minimum Bid” is an amount below which the lot will not sell. THE CONSIGNOR OF PROPERTY MAY PLACE WRITTEN “Minimum Bids” ON HIS LOTS IN ADVANCE OF THE AUCTION; ON SUCH LOTS, IF THE HAMMER PRICE DOES NOT MEET THE “Minimum Bid”, THE CONSIGNOR MAY PAY A REDUCED COMMISSION ON THOSE LOTS. “Minimum Bids” are generally posted online several days prior to the Auction closing. Any successful bid placed by a consignor on his property on the Auction floor, by any means during the live session, or after the “Minimum Bid” for an Auction have been posted, will require the consignor to pay full Buyer’s Premium and Seller’s Commissions on such lot. Auctioneer or its affiliates expressly reserve the right to modify any such bids at any time prior to the hammer based upon data made known to the Auctioneer or its affiliates. Above clipped from HA.com. My bold.

It stinks when it happens to you at first, and hopefully it isn't a high ticket item. Then adjust your bidding reality to the conditions at hand. David

These days, just think of it as a hidden reserve. In the olden days, it was a bidding pool. Similar concept. David

It really is part of Mike's history, no doubt, but the shakeout was there was nothing untoward about his activity (then, or now, apparently), rather there was considerable blowback from collectors about discovering that having your friends bid on your auction lots and then selling them back to you was OK. I am not that drilled in that I would conceive of such a plan, but I can see if it is your life's work or primary source of income, whatever, go for it. Best, David S. Albright

SOLD, Thanks! LINK to the seven pieces of comic strip art $300 Thanks for checking this out! Here are seven original comic strip art pieces for "How It Began" by Paul Berdanier from the 1930s. He had a one-shot comic book in 1939, (not included). I take check, money order, or paypal. $300 plus $10 for safe and sturdy shipping. US only, thanks. Questions and comments welcome in the thread, or send me a message! Best, David S. Albright

Berdanier "How It Began" AUCTION LINK SOLD Thanks! Thanks for checking this out! It is an auction that starts at $25, or Buy It Now for $45. Click a couple times to make bigger. Best, David S. Albright

That reminds me, I have a stack of Paul Berdanier "How It Began" oddity panels from the 1930s I need to look at. The seller talked me into it while I was doing yard work with my (gasp) PORTABLE phone. I actually still don't have a cell phone. He threw in a couple other strips, Roy Rogers, and another western, IIRC. Or maybe it was a GORDO. David

It's nice that what you purchased seems to be a print of the file sent for approval (a little larger?) so that gives it a difference a collector would appreciate. I would have been happy enough to print out a high def copy of the comic page blown up to 11 X 17, but it seems you have the "original" print, so, good on you. Glad you like it, David

As published, it seems the train was removed, or was added onto the original art after publication? From the Jeff Gorrell CAF page.... "I've added a color image of the splash page that was actually published. It's not the same as the original art. The best I can figure is that Kirby needed to simplify the splash page; he redrew the section with all of the building damage so that Titan's arm is menacing but not hitting the buildings. The redrawn area would have been removed once the page was printer ready, leaving the original damaged buildings in the final version of the art. Apparently, someone tried to remove the white out or the overlay for those buildings. The result is fairly amateurish with some less-than-smooth inking in that area." From the same estate, a batch of Alex Raymond RIP KIRBY dailies. David

Frazetta Creepy 4 cover art already at $110 K with BP, though there is a possible reserve not posted until Nov. 12. 14 X 19 image area. Mixed media on illustration board. David

It could be one of those buy back situations where the consignor eats the fees to get the art back. The piece also gets a history of "not fake" from the recognized auction house by virtue of the "sale" which has some value. David

AnkurJ said "10/2018 was offered for $12k “sold” in heritage earlier this year for 6k https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/covers/adam-hughes-red-sonja-tarzan-1-cover-original-art-dynamite-entertainment-2018-/a/7229-94057.s Now available at $11,500 and on hold https://www.comicartfans.com/ForSaleDetails.asp?ArtId=5468592" Thanks, AnkurJ, This reveals for new, or recent, collectors how the marketplace is not necessarily as transparent as it might appear at first look. There is no way of following the ownership provenance, so it's all guesswork as to whether it is simply market shenanigans. The piece may have been waiting for the right buyer for a couple years, meanwhile churning through dealer sites and auction houses to gain visibility and price point credibility. Who offered it for $12K in 2018? (Curious). Best, David

MOVED to EBAY, thanks for looking! LINK TO THE AUCTION Starts at $3000 $2800 / offer. Ends soon. I will relist at that time. Always willing to hear comments and questions! Best, David S. Albright

It is interesting to watch (from a distance) how the resale of collections unfolds. As estates dissolve, opportunities arise. I've been picky lately and trying to sell more than buy. David

Sure, but, for the price of admission, the attendee gets what seems to be a gallery type experience with no obligation to buy. Not bad! I would be all over it if it was near me. David

Right, without going over? Price is right rules? Fun, David

Likely a later addition by a fan or dealer, as has been mentioned. The original art might have have been enlarged, reduced, cropped, or extended, statted, and then shot for production. Lots of possibilities! The up side is this seems to be the "original" art. David

Go Punisher! My son has a Hildebrandt Brothers card art piece I gave him. Image below is the cover art in the conversation. David

My oldest boy worked at a toy and card store in early 2000s, and got sucked into spending some of his paycheck on cards. I should check with him if it ever paid off. Doubtful. I bought a shoebox of 1950s cards in the early 1970s, and most are not worth the time and cost of trying to grade, or resell raw. Comic books are a little better, for me. Sluggish, but reliable. David

But, if you were just buying on a whim, it is a good place to be. Some people had $350 to burn then just like others have $35,000 now.

I missed that. Thanks, Ron.

Looks like 30 pages!

Nice catch!