How do you all feel about ORIGINAL STRIP ART?

[Legend-migration]

Hello everyone.

 

I'm over here from the coin side. I recently attended the last Heritage Comic auction in NYC. Saw some pretty neat Orignal Strip art in it.

 

I happen to like Original Comic strip art. I was wondering where the market is on that stuff. And how big is that market?

 

I guess I should say, I do own a few pieces already.

 

Thanks!

[tb]

I guess your question is a bit like asking a coin collector whether

they like quarters: there are so many types of strips from different

periods, by different artists, ...

 

A great place to start reading is Jerry Weist's price guide to comic

book art (although it is outdated by now). Also, if you are real hard

core, you might consider collecting Russ Cochran's auction catalogs

dating back to the 1970s. They (especially the early issues of "Graphic

Gallery") contain the most beautiful examples vintage comic art you'll

find anywhere. Heritage has had some nice pieces, but the breadth of

the selection is nowhere that of those early GGs.

 

 

 

 

[Legend-migration]

Actually, I have all the books. I 'm just curious if there are many people out there who collect Strip art.

 

And other than all the Peanuts stuff, is anything else really in demand? Especially the earlier strips (pre 1950's).

[tb]

As far as I know, the highest price ever realized for original daily strip art

was a little over $100,000 ($110K?) for 3 panels from the first Superman

strip; Steve Geppi bought those last September.

 

My own favorite area of strip art is early Disney. The most sought after

dailies are by Floyd Gottfredson (especially from the first half of the

1930s) and Al Taliaferro (from 1936). Dailies don't bring as much as

Sunday pages, but exceptional examples (such as those offered by

Mastronet a week or two ago) of Gottfredsons still easily bring 5 figures.

The Holy Grail for Disney collectors would have to be pre-Gottfredson

strips by Ub Iwerks and Win Smith (first few weeks of 1930 if I remember

correctly) but I don't recall ever seeing any on the market. One drawing

attributed to Win Smith was put for sale on eBay last year by a seller

who had no idea about its possible historical significance. The auction

was withdrawn with no explanation after she found out.

 

Anyway, my point is really just: yes, someone cares about original

strip art .

 

[TomG]

I think original comic strip art is great. I personally like a lot of it from various eras. The early characters from the 1920's-1930's are great. I happen to like the pre-super hero art and also the Disney art. This being said I do like Superman and Tracy also. You should get some auction catalogs from various dealers and also any other reference books that are available.

 

Tom

[PovertyRow]

I 'm just curious if there are many people out there who collect Strip art.

 

I am not one but yes, there are. Strip Are is definitely an established area of collectability, made so by those who collect it. Siegel and Schuster did lots of the Superman strip art - can you imagine? Burne Hogarth's Tarzan strips are legend. Many say he surpassed Harold Foster in those Tarzan strips. And don;t forget Foster's Prince Valiant. God - there are tons more - just highlighting a few.

 

Not sure how all feel about it but I think strip art is swell!

[aardvark88]

Think there is more worldwide demand for comic strip/Sunday orig. art than comic book art due to international syndication.

Peanuts originals currently on auction at www.illustration-house.com