Heritage's Next Event Auction has started posting books ! 31 31

[lou_fine]

Talking about stunning and stupendous cover artwork here, it was certainly nice to see further confirmation that the marketplace is finally starting to cross over into the 5-figure threshold for some of these all-time classic Frazetta Famous Funnies cover books which even Frazetta himself acknowledges was done when he was at the top of his form:  

https://comics.ha.com/itm/golden-age-1938-1955-/famous-funnies-211-signature-series-frank-frazetta-eastern-color-1954-cgc-vf-nm-90-off-white-to-white-pages/a/7266-95049.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515

 

Not sure if it's the signature which I somehow doubt as this copy sold for a rather astounding $19,800 when another equivalent CGC 9.0 graded copy had sold for only $5,040 at the beginning of 2021 and with CGC 9.4 graded copies selling into the $7K's price range during the previous 2 years.  Looks like the only other 2 Frazetta Famous Funnies covers to hit 5-figures were the CGC 8.0 graded copy of FF 212 and also the CGC 7.5 graded copy of FF 215 which sold for $19,200 and $11,400 respectively, with both of them being sold in Heritage's last Signature Auction only a short couple months ago.  Especially nice is to see these prices being fetched for reasonable condition copies that are far from the highest grades.  

With these kinds of results on some of his Famous Funnies covers, it makes me wonder what kind of prices we could see if copies of either FF 213 or FF214 in nice grade comes up for auction, especially since I consider those two covers to be the high water mark of his Famous Funnies run and a run which even he himself said:      

"All I know is that I was very pleased with those Famous Funnies covers; they are me at my very best."

. 

Edited January 16, 2022 by lou_fine

[tth2]

On 1/16/2022 at 1:16 PM, lou_fine said:

Not sure if it's the signature which I somehow doubt as this copy sold for a rather astounding $19,800 when another equivalent CGC 9.0 graded copy had sold for only $5,040 at the beginning of 2021 and with CGC 9.4 graded copies selling into the $7K's price range during the previous 2 years.

Pretty sure it's for the signature, which is kind of nuts considering you can still buy some Frazetta OA (with his signature) for less than $19,800.

[lou_fine]

On 1/16/2022 at 12:16 AM, tth2 said:

Pretty sure it's for the signature, which is kind of nuts considering you can still buy some Frazetta OA (with his signature) for less than $19,800.

I guess only time will tell in the form of future upcoming auctions since both the Famous Funnies 212 and 215 which sold for $19,200 and $11,400 respectively didn't have his signature on either of them, but will definitely be fun to watch.    

Edited January 16, 2022 by lou_fine

[Gotham Kid]

On 1/16/2022 at 3:55 AM, tth2 said:

Millennial Crypto Kid, he just stares blankly.

isn't that their natural state of mind ?

Edited January 16, 2022 by Gotham Kid

[Gotham Kid]

On 1/16/2022 at 4:07 AM, lou_fine said:

Being the old fart that I am, I would definitely have gone for his stunning and super rare OA for the cover to Detective Comics 28.     

Metro own both OA to 28 and 30 iirc

[Larryw7]

On 1/15/2022 at 6:04 PM, szav said:

Is it just me or did all the big boys/new money go home today? or did some people become convinced there was no need to watch on Saturday?  I wouldn't say things were going cheap, and there was no shortage of strong prices, but there were also a lot of non-insane prices.  This one sure sticks out a few weeks after an 8.5 went for 38k...

Maybe I'll actually be able to afford one again.

[Larryw7]

On 1/15/2022 at 8:54 PM, Pantodude said:

I was wondering about the Batman #49, too.   I thought the 8.5 result was due in part to rumors that Mad Hatter might make his movie debut in the Pattinson flick, but then what happened here?  Sometimes it just depends on who shows up to auction. 

Any thoughts on the Batman #18 5.5 W which sold for $5040 today?  Good?  Strong?  Something else?    

https://comics.ha.com/itm/golden-age-1938-1955-/superhero/batman-18-dc-1943-cgc-fn-55-white-pages/a/7266-97077.s?ic2=mytracked-lotspage-lotlinks-12202013&tab=MyTrackedLots-101116

 

Mediocre.

[tth2]

On 1/16/2022 at 6:30 PM, Gotham Kid said:

On 1/16/2022 at 12:07 PM, lou_fine said:

Being the old fart that I am, I would definitely have gone for his stunning and super rare OA for the cover to Detective Comics 28.     

Metro own both OA to 28 and 30 iirc

Yes, Dean is subtly indicating he's been a VIP guest at Metro's offices.

[Pantodude]

On 1/16/2022 at 7:46 AM, Larryw7 said:

Mediocre.

New high for the Bat 18 in 5.5, just not as high as folks expected?  Wonder what folks expected it to go for.  That Bat 49 in 7.5 was a bit down from $5755 in 2020 and of course $6369 in 2018, but I don't expect that to last...such a cool GA cover!  

[rjpb]

On 1/15/2022 at 3:43 PM, RareHighGrade said:

$11,400, almost 30X Guide.  Can anyone explain why it went for so much?

It's uncommon and a cool cover, but who can really explain prices on Prize books, they seem to be all over the place. 

[jimbo_7071]

On 1/15/2022 at 6:43 PM, RareHighGrade said:

$11,400, almost 30X Guide.  Can anyone explain why it went for so much?

I think that some people bid in these auctions thinking, "I'm walking away with this book no matter what," and when two bidders have that same attitude, then you see bizarre results.

To me, $11,400 would be a lot of money, but to some people, it's nothing. Some people also mistakenly believe that any price that they pay at auction is reasonable because they're only one increment above somebody else. 

With a book like that, I would want to see where the third- and fourth-highest bidders stopped bidding; that would give me a better idea of the book's true long-term value. (I'm not sure whether that kind of information is available on the Heritage site the way it is on eBay; if it is, I don't know where to find it.)

Edited January 16, 2022 by jimbo_7071

[ThothAmon]

On 1/16/2022 at 8:49 AM, rjpb said:

prices on Prize books, they seem to be all over the place.

Believe it. I couldn’t even get $250 for the sole census copy of this one on eBay when I had it listed. Consarn it. 
 

[adamstrange]

On 1/16/2022 at 8:49 AM, rjpb said:

It's uncommon and a cool cover, but who can really explain prices on Prize books, they seem to be all over the place. 

So when we see the results, we should expect to be sur-Prized?

[jimbo_7071]

On 1/16/2022 at 9:27 AM, adamstrange said:

So when we see the results, we should expect to be sur-Prized?

That's so punny I forgot to laugh!

[Flex Mentallo]

On 1/16/2022 at 2:27 PM, adamstrange said:

So when we see the results, we should expect to be sur-Prized?

Prize-icely

[sagii]

This used to be highest graded, I paid what I thought may have been overpaying maybe two years ago on C'Link, but the results of the new highest graded only a half point higher yesterday on HA (getting almost 3x what i got this for) make me very happy I did pay what I did . 

Ship has sailed on #18 for me though, yesterday confirmed that , time to adjust the ol remaining want list. 

[lou_fine]

On 1/16/2022 at 12:16 AM, tth2 said:

Pretty sure it's for the signature, which is kind of nuts considering you can still buy some Frazetta OA (with his signature) for less than $19,800.

Well, if buyers are paying so much more for a signature, just imagine how much this signature laden book will be able to fetch later today:  

https://comics.ha.com/itm/bronze-age-1970-1979-/the-incredible-hulk-181-signature-series-stan-lee-and-others-marvel-1974-cgc-vf-85-off-white-pages/a/122203-15490.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515

[Gotham Kid]

On 1/16/2022 at 6:40 PM, lou_fine said:

Well, if buyers are paying so much more for a signature, just imagine how much this signature laden book will be able to fetch later today:  

https://comics.ha.com/itm/bronze-age-1970-1979-/the-incredible-hulk-181-signature-series-stan-lee-and-others-marvel-1974-cgc-vf-85-off-white-pages/a/122203-15490.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515

Good move on the part of Heritage to mention the issue in title and description. Otherwise, most bidders would have no idea what they'd be bidding on.

Edited January 16, 2022 by Gotham Kid

[lou_fine]

On 1/16/2022 at 2:30 AM, Gotham Kid said:

On 1/15/2022 at 8:07 PM, lou_fine said:

Being the old fart that I am, I would definitely have gone for his stunning and super rare OA for the cover to Detective Comics 28.     

Metro own both OA to 28 and 30 iirc

Well, definitely pretty tough to miss the outstanding OA cover for 'Tec 28 as it's front and center when you walk past their front door.  

I believe they did have the OA cover for 'Tec 30, but not as much of a standout or memorable for me personally as that is probably one of my least favorite covers out of the short pre-Robin 'Tec run.  

[lou_fine]

On 1/16/2022 at 4:47 AM, tth2 said:

On 1/16/2022 at 2:30 AM, Gotham Kid said:

Metro own both OA to 28 and 30 iirc

Yes, Dean is subtly indicating he's been a VIP guest at Metro's offices.

Nah.............just indicating that I am not really that much of a BA guy, especially in comparison to those classic pre-Batman 'Tec style covers done by Flessel and Guardineer at the time.  

As for the Metro offices in the crime infested heart of NYC, absolutely nothing but a derelict shack in comparison to my visit to the plush and palatial Hui mansion in the elegant and upscale neighboring HK seaside village district of Stanley where all of the wealthy ex-pats reside alongside their private collections of vintage collectible comic books and OA.    

Edited January 17, 2022 by lou_fine