Top 11 GA Acquisitions of 2011. Post 'em if you got 'em.

[buttock]

Well, not a comic, per se, more like a 3D panel, but does seem to have gold on it. Won ebay last night- big $...looks to be lacquered wood circa 1850… just over 2" tall... Netsuke from Japan...

 

 

 

 

 

I really like this piece. How widespread is forgery with these?

[BOOT]

Here are my eleven best of 2011...

 

165 Days: a Story of the 25th Division on Luzon

 

This 1944 World War II graphic novel about a Pacific theater campaign by a man who was there is one of the earliest, and one of the most gripping first person narratives ever produced in comics form. Oversize hardback, cloth covers, rough but effective art. Unlisted in the Guide and unknown to me until this year.

[BOOT]

A cheat here - two for one. Two issues of Air Ace with Bob Powell covers and art. Both tough to find in decent shape.

[BOOT]

Dumbo Weekly

 

The complete run of sixteen 1942 premiums given away at DX Service Stations, in the original binder.

[BOOT]

Home Run #3

 

In honor of Stan the Man Musial getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom this year, a copy of Home Run #3. It's rough, but signed by the man himself. Also the original art to a two page Powell story from that issue comparing the base-stealing skills of Ty Cobb and Jackie Robinson.

[BOOT]

It Can Happen Here

 

Ashcan/proof copy of unlisted, unpublished Harvey public service giveaway.

[BOOT]

Little Willie

 

Tough to find 1949 VD prevention comic book. Unlisted in Guide.

[BOOT]

Madhouse Of Mystery

 

Another twofer.

 

Dr. Bill Neff was a stage magician who specialized in "spook shows" - creepy shows in movie theaters that included things like "ghosts" flying above the heads of the audience. He starred in his own Street and Smith comic book "Ghost Breakers." These 1940s booklets were used to promote his magic shows. Each one contains a Dr. Neff comic story by Bob Powell. Unlisted in the Guide and unknown to me until this year.

[BOOT]

Sidewalk Romance

 

1950 VD prevention comic book. Unlisted in Guide.

[BOOT]

Spectacular Adventures

 

Gerber 7. This copy has a double cover.

[BOOT]

States Premium Comic Books

 

A real cheat here - 25 for 1.

 

Complete set of 25 1950s giveaway comics about the different states. Been looking for these for years but only managed to pick up a few.

 

Two states in each comic for a total of 25 in the set. Got a set of 24 to complete the set. Each one was given away with a pound of hot dogs. Want a set? That's a lotta franks!

[BOOT]

War In The Midst Of America

 

1864 graphic novel by Charles Dryden. Published in London by Ackermann & Co. British author Dryden decided to chronicle the American Civil War. He traveled to America to see events firsthand. He provides a humorous and satirical look at then-current events. At the time, the war wasn't finished, so he didn't know how it would end...

 

This is an unusual format - two hard covers that aren't connected at the binding. The inside can be turned from page to page, but it also folds out in one long accordion-like series of panels. 80 pages, unfolded it measures 36 feet!

 

This copy is fragile. I've scanned the cover. Sample interior pages come from scans provided by Archive.org or OpenLibrary.org. You can read the whole thing here or here here.

 

Hey, look! Word balloons!

 

 

One great loss this year - Canadian comedian and comic collector/dealer Stewart Silver passed away in November. One of the most knowledgeable collectors and dealers (comicstew on eBay), he knew more about rare and obscure comics than just about anybody. His wealth of knowledge, good humor, and enthusiasm for collecting will be sorely missed.

 

Many, many thanks to all the board members who have shared their great comics in 2011. We're all lucky to be alive and collecting comic books. May your best finds still be ahead of you!

[pennynike1]

I was bidding on that Dagar #14 when it was auctioned as well. Was looking for a consolation prize after losing out on that Phantom Lady #23

 

That Blue Beetle is nice. Didn't think you were into gga books anymore Richard

Thanks Alex. I always like the gga...

[Pat Calhoun]

Boot- cool- especially the WWII one. hope you've got this great first hand account... & re netsuke- while there are tons of cheap knockoffs, haven't seen many true forgeries. what you do see are modern pieces that are done in old style, but the trained eye can usually tell the difference (most often even from pictures). plus I've bought from this dealer in Japan before and his stock in trade seems to be genuine material that he gets a better return on ebay than he would locally. a true forgery would probably aim higher than the $500-$900 range I frequent... an auction recently set a record (for an unappealing piece with no provenance) over $500,000, by the way...

 

 

[Scrooge]

Madhouse Of Mystery

 

Another twofer.

 

Dr. Bill Neff was a stage magician who specialized in "spook shows" - creepy shows in movie theaters that included things like "ghosts" flying above the heads of the audience. He starred in his own Street and Smith comic book "Ghost Breakers." These 1940s booklets were used to promote his magic shows. Each one contains a Dr. Neff comic story by Bob Powell. Unlisted in the Guide and unknown to me until this year.

 

 

Mr. BOOT, I am another one of your biggest fans! As a Powell enthusiast, this Dr. Neff material is fantastic. Thanks for showing us all these books and the interior scan on this one.

[MrBedrock]

BOOT -

Those are really some amazing finds. I love seeing cool things I never knew existed.

Thanks so much for posting them. (thumbs u

[Straw-Man]

BOOT -

Those are really some amazing finds. I love seeing cool things I never knew existed.

Thanks so much for posting them. (thumbs u

 

so glad the texas one didn't get a comic of it's own; we'd have never heard the end of it.

[tb]

Mr. BOOT, I am another one of your biggest fans! As a Powell enthusiast, this Dr. Neff material is fantastic. Thanks for showing us all these books and the interior scan on this one.

 

Me too. Looking at BOOT's collection, I am feeling a bit sheepish that I ever used words like "rare" or "difficult" about the stuff that I collect. At least for me, BOOT raises the bar several notches on both fronts.

[adamstrange]

BOOT -

Those are really some amazing finds. I love seeing cool things I never knew existed.

Thanks so much for posting them. (thumbs u

 

Nice set with the WWII book sounding especially intriguing. (thumbs u

[MrBedrock]

BOOT -

Those are really some amazing finds. I love seeing cool things I never knew existed.

Thanks so much for posting them. (thumbs u

 

so glad the texas one didn't get a comic of it's own; we'd have never heard the end of it.

The Texas one had so much cool info that only Rhode Island would fit on the remaining page.