The Complete New Adventure Run, At Long Last 10 10

[Pickie]

Thank you for sharing these beauties! Prime-time show 

[Professor K]

That 26 is a sight to behold. ( hate to talk money but a 4.0 conserved recently sold for 16k). Forget value, I'm in awe of the dedication it took to find and obtain each one of these. 

[Yorick]

On 4/9/2024 at 6:43 PM, RareHighGrade said:

5.0 represents the highest graded copy

RareMidGrade 

[Yorick]

On 4/10/2024 at 7:30 AM, RareHighGrade said:

[tth2]

On 4/10/2024 at 10:57 PM, Professor K said:

That 26 is a sight to behold. ( hate to talk money but a 4.0 conserved recently sold for 16k). Forget value, I'm in awe of the dedication it took to find and obtain each one of these. 

The value of a book that Peter could display on these Boards while Levine was trying to find any copy?  Priceless.

[grendelbo]

On 4/10/2024 at 8:30 AM, RareHighGrade said:

Of the 18,000 books in Edgar Church’s collection, only around 10 have the name “Church” written on the cover.  One of the other books sharing this rare distinction:  Edgar’s copy of Action Comics #1.

Did not know that about DA's copy. Thanks.

[mwotka]

On 4/9/2024 at 8:43 PM, RareHighGrade said:

Issue #25 is a beast that is rarely seen and almost never comes up for sale.  This Lost Valley 5.0 represents the highest graded copy on the census.  No one has seen a Church copy.

 

Incredible book. I have to wonder if it might grade higher today?  Obviously things could be worse on the back.  But given the tighter standards of old, I wouldn't be surprised if that came back 6.0 or better.  I don't have an image handy, but I recall a Promise book got an 8.0 with a 1/2 inch corner missing.  This seems about the same.  And if that is deemed a production flaw, it should be given some leeway as well.  Just a thought...

And the 26....  What a gem!

[Frisco Larson]

On 4/7/2024 at 8:41 AM, RareHighGrade said:

Issue #15 ushered in the first of the Flessel covers, and it’s a classic.  In Norman Rockwell style, the artwork evokes the carefree nature of boyhood, which is a continuing theme of Flessel’s covers until issue #23, when the subject matter became more mature and darker.

This issue is extremely difficult to find.  In fact, according to the CGC census, it is the rarest New Adventure issue, with only 3 Universal copies, none of which is high grade.  This rarity is reflected in the recent sale of Ian Levine’s former copy, a CGC 4.5 that sold for $12,500 last month.

My raw copy comes from the Church collection.

This is one of my very favorite New Adventure covers! I love the carefree nature of it, and find it, along with Flessel's other aquatic covers, to be some of the best covers of that period. I hoped to have a shot at the aforementioned recently auctioned copy, but that was just folly. I may never find one I can afford, but I sincerely thank you for sharing yours on these boards Peter! Your foresight and determination have paid off and I'm honestly thrilled for you!  

[Frisco Larson]

On 4/9/2024 at 8:43 PM, RareHighGrade said:

Issue #25 is a beast that is rarely seen and almost never comes up for sale.  This Lost Valley 5.0 represents the highest graded copy on the census.  No one has seen a Church copy.

 

This might be my favorite of all of the New Adventure covers! It's just spectacular!!! 

[FFB]

On 4/10/2024 at 7:30 AM, RareHighGrade said:

This pristine Church copy of issue #26 is the jewel of my collection.  One of the things that makes it unique is the name written in the upper left-hand corner of the cover.  Of the 18,000 books in Edgar Church’s collection, only around 10 have the name “Church” written on the cover.  One of the other books sharing this rare distinction:  Edgar’s copy of Action Comics #1.

Along with its terrific cover, the issue also includes an ad for Action Comics #1.

#26 is renowned for its rarity.  As anyone who frequented the CGC Boards in the mid-2000’s will remember, it was Ian Levine’s White Whale, eluding him for years until it became the very last issue he needed to complete his collection of all DC books ever published.

 

Peter,

I remember seeing you post this years ago when Ian was looking for his copy (I think that's when it was, anyway).  Any backstory you can share about when and where/how you wound up with this book?  I'm not surprised it's the crown jewel of your collection.  It takes my breath away just to look at a picture of it.  I can only imagine how excited you must have been to hold it for the first time. 

Edited April 10 by FFB
typo

[sagii]

On 4/10/2024 at 10:30 AM, RareHighGrade said:

This pristine Church copy of issue #26 is the jewel of my collection.  One of the things that makes it unique is the name written in the upper left-hand corner of the cover.  Of the 18,000 books in Edgar Church’s collection, only around 10 have the name “Church” written on the cover.  One of the other books sharing this rare distinction:  Edgar’s copy of Action Comics #1.

Along with its terrific cover, the issue also includes an ad for Action Comics #1.

#26 is renowned for its rarity.  As anyone who frequented the CGC Boards in the mid-2000’s will remember, it was Ian Levine’s White Whale, eluding him for years until it became the very last issue he needed to complete his collection of all DC books ever published.

 

   

[RareHighGrade]

My personal White Whale was issue #27.  I searched for decades for a nice copy, with no luck.  I eventually resigned myself to the fact that I would never be able to finish the run.

But then the Ian Levine collection of pre-hero DCs came up for auction.  Ian’s pre-hero run, although complete, consisted almost entirely of low grade and restored books.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that, tucked away among them, was this breath-taking unrestored beauty.  The hole in my collection was finally filled.   

This issue has the earliest shark cover in comics, as well as an interior ad for Action Comics #1.

 

[sagii]

On 4/10/2024 at 8:56 PM, RareHighGrade said:

My personal White Whale was issue #27.  I searched for decades for a nice copy, with no luck.  I eventually resigned myself to the fact that I would never be able to finish the run.

But then the Ian Levine collection of pre-hero DCs came up for auction.  Ian’s pre-hero run, although complete, consisted almost entirely of low grade and restored books.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that, tucked away among them, was this breath-taking unrestored beauty.  The hole in my collection was finally filled.   

This issue has the earliest shark cover in comics, as well as an interior ad for Action Comics #1.

 

Amazing, absolutely STELLAR!! Congrats on the pickup!

[onlyweaknesskryptonite]

Kinda fitting that you held his white whale and he held yours.

Guess we know how that staring contest ended.

Congratulations!

 

[Frisco Larson]

On 4/10/2024 at 7:56 PM, RareHighGrade said:

My personal White Whale was issue #27.  I searched for decades for a nice copy, with no luck.  I eventually resigned myself to the fact that I would never be able to finish the run.

But then the Ian Levine collection of pre-hero DCs came up for auction.  Ian’s pre-hero run, although complete, consisted almost entirely of low grade and restored books.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that, tucked away among them, was this breath-taking unrestored beauty.  The hole in my collection was finally filled.   

This issue has the earliest shark cover in comics, as well as an interior ad for Action Comics #1.

 

Wow, what an incredible last book to need and to finally obtain!!!  Much like your Detective run, this is, in my opinion, a museum quality collection Peter! I hope you consider building a registry set with these. Having won Best Golden Age Set, your Detective run is immortalized in the registry, even if you sell it, it'll be there for future generations to view! I think these New Adventures belong right next to them!  That's just my suggestion, by all means feel free to discard it if you choose ... but think of the children!!!  

[RareHighGrade]

On 4/10/2024 at 1:22 PM, FFB said:

Peter,

I remember seeing you post this years ago when Ian was looking for his copy (I think that's when it was, anyway).  Any backstory you can share about when and where/how you wound up with this book?  I'm not surprised it's the crown jewel of your collection.  It takes my breath away just to look at a picture of it.  I can only imagine how excited you must have been to hold it for the first time. 

Hi Scott,

The back story on how I obtained the Church #26 is that it was part of a complex trade deal with another collector in which we exchanged a variety of Church and other high grade books decades ago.  This occurred before #26 was even recognized for its rarity - i.e., before the publicity around Ian Levine's search for the issue.  

[RareHighGrade]

With the exception of when he was impersonating another artist (e.g., NA #16 (Shuster) and Tec #18 (O'Mealia)), Flessel typically signed his covers.  Can you spot where he signed the NA #27?

[OtherEric]

On 4/10/2024 at 10:07 PM, RareHighGrade said:

With the exception of when he was impersonating another artist (e.g., NA #16 (Shuster) and Tec #18 (O'Mealia)), Flessel typically signed his covers.  Can you spot where he signed the NA #27?

Stylized CF in the lower left corner?

[RareHighGrade]

On 4/10/2024 at 10:14 PM, OtherEric said:

Stylized CF in the lower left corner?

  Similar to how he signed Tecs 3 and 34.

[Bronty]

On 4/10/2024 at 8:56 PM, RareHighGrade said:

My personal White Whale was issue #27.  I searched for decades for a nice copy, with no luck.  I eventually resigned myself to the fact that I would never be able to finish the run.

But then the Ian Levine collection of pre-hero DCs came up for auction.  Ian’s pre-hero run, although complete, consisted almost entirely of low grade and restored books.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that, tucked away among them, was this breath-taking unrestored beauty.  The hole in my collection was finally filled.   

This issue has the earliest shark cover in comics, as well as an interior ad for Action Comics #1.

 

gorgeous!  congrats.