LOT #5273 |
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Marvel Comics #1 Denver pedigree (Timely, 1939) CGC VF+ 8.5 Off-white pages. This is one of the most amazing comic books we'...
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Sold on Aug 13, 2005 for:
$172,500.00
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Description
Marvel Comics #1 Denver pedigree (Timely, 1939) CGC VF+ 8.5 Off-white pages. This is one of the most amazing comic books we've ever offered here at Heritage -- what a nice copy of an ultra-desirable book! The edges are perfect, and the page quality's impeccable. As far as we can tell by scrutinizing, only some color breaks in the spine area kept this very, very sharp copy out of NM- or NM territory. As for the issue itself, it's a collection of firsts that no comic book ever published can top. It was the first comic book by the publisher now known as Marvel Comics. The book effectively started the Marvel Universe, a set of characters that left its mark on American popular culture, selling millions of comic books and starring in TV shows, movies, and more. A whole bunch of characters make their first appearances here, but we'll start by mentioning the origin and first appearance of the first Human Torch, one of the most important characters of Timely's run. Also in this milestone issue was the de facto first appearance of the other major Timely character, the Sub-Mariner, who's still a star in Marvel comic books today (a story with the character had been printed in the promotional comic Motion Picture Funnies Weekly, but that book was never released to the general public; Overstreet terms Marvel #1 the Sub-Mariner's first newsstand appearance). There are even more key firsts here -- take the first comic book appearance of pulp hero Ka-Zar, who starred in his own comic series more than once, and guest-starred in innumerable others. Then there's the first appearance of the original Angel, which in itself would be enough to make this a key book, as he was a Timely standby throughout the Golden Age. The cover, showing the Human Torch, is by science fiction pulp illustrator Frank R. Paul. The interior material was the work of the artistic "shop" known as Funnies, Inc., the best-known artists of which are Bill Everett (who created the Sub-Mariner and drew the character's story in this issue) and Carl Burgos (who did the same for the Human Torch). Overstreet ranks this as the third-most valuable comic book of all, behind only Action Comics #1 and Detective Comics #27. This copy blew us away, and we don't doubt that anyone else who loves comics will have the exact same reaction. Overstreet 2005 VF 8.0 value = $144,000; VF/NM 9.0 value = $254,500. CGC census 7/05: 1 in 8.5, 2 higher.View the certification for CGC Certification ID 0056429001, including grader's notes if available and a link to the latest full census report for the issue.*
*All information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, but errors are possible. No item may be returned or refused based on this information, which is provided as a service to our clients. Feel free to contact each data source directly to determine the accuracy of this information.
More information about Marvel Comics, and Marvel Comics #1 Comic Title.
Auction Info
2005 August Comic Auction #817 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2005
11th-13th
Thursday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 17
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 11,807
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
15% of the successful bid per lot.
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