LOT #91137 |
Sold on May 21, 2009 for: Sign-in
or Join (free & quick)
Detective Comics #38 Allentown pedigree (DC, 1940) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages....
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Description
Detective Comics #38 Allentown pedigree (DC, 1940) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages. The only copy graded above 9.0 of the first appearance of Robin, one of Overstreet's top 15 Golden Age books.This is an absolutely brilliant specimen, and the front cover in particular is flawless. The staples are shiny, and the page quality is the off-white that we're accustomed to seeing from this consistent pedigree collection.
In a sense, this copy has two pedigrees, hailing from the Allentown collection (which also produced the finest known copies of Detective #27 and Captain America Comics #1) and having been part of the acclaimed collection of actor Nicolas Cage.
Robin was the first costumed sidekick in comics, and he's still the most famous to this day. And the concept was copied by just about everyone! Robin's debut also meant a change for the Batman character, whom Overstreet called "foreboding and enigmatic" and Rob Hughes characterized as "dark, grim, and quite violent."
The genesis of the sidekick idea as explained by writer Bill Finger: "The thing that bothered me is that Batman didn't have anyone to talk to, and it got a little tiresome always having him thinking. I found as I went along that Batman needed a Watson to talk to." Reportedly artist Jerry Robinson suggested that the new character's costume be adapted from Robin Hood's.
When we last auctioned this copy four years ago it sold for $126,500 -- the only Golden Age books Heritage has sold for more are high-grade Marvel Comics #1 copies, the 9.6 Mile High Flash Comics #1, and the highest-graded Action #7.
CGC notes, "From the Collection of Nicolas Cage." Overstreet 2009 NM- 9.2 value = $80,000. CGC census 4/09: 1 in 9.4, none higher.
CGC Grader Notes:
Back Cover Shadow
Right Top Front Cover Lite Bend
View the certification for CGC Certification ID 0055531009, 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 Detective Comics, and Detective Comics #38 Comic Title.
Auction Info
2009 May Signature Comics & Comic Art Auction #7007 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2009
21st-23rd
Thursday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 20
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 8,769
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid per lot.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | Comics Grading Tutorial
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | Comics Grading Tutorial