Latest Heritage Amazing Comics Auction™ Internet 13081

Dallas, TX - Heritage’s Amazing Comics Auction™ (ACA) sale #13081 ended Sunday, August 3, with 729 lots offered. 493 bidders placed bids, and 238 of them were successful, for a total sell-through of $72,086.95 for 698 lots (95.74% of lots offered). 10 after-auction lots were purchased by 7 bidders, for a total of $1,470.30.

A few highlights from the 08/03/03 ACA sale are:

Frank Frazetta - Original Preliminary Sketch for Bloodstone (undated). Frank Frazetta's paintings and illustrations have set the standard for fantasy artists for the past 50 years. One would have to go back to the Renaissance to find anyone more free, comfortable and creative in use of anatomy and composition. This small preliminary pencil and watercolor sketch is a rough for Frazetta's famous painting "Bloodstone", which was originally published in 1976 as the cover to the book of the same name by Karl Edward Wagner. With an overall page size of approximately 7" x 9.75", the image area measures only 3" x 5". Signed by Frank Frazetta. Provenance: The Alexander Gallery. Realized $4,140.00

Frank Frazetta - Original Preliminary Sketches (undated). The incredible art of Frank Frazetta has brought him worldwide fame, legions of loyal fans, and scores of imitators. His darkly dramatic works have become the ultimate standards of excellence in the fantasy and adventure field. His unique vision and original style have expanded the audience for the fantasy genre and heavily influenced generations of later artists and movie directors. Frazetta is also a remarkably versatile artist who is equally at home with pen and ink, pencil, sculpture, photography and watercolor. These small sketches were created in red conte and feature images which were later fleshed into inked Canaveral Press images in the mid-sixties. The overall art size is 85" x 11" and the sketches themselves measure approximately 3" x 3.5" each. Signed by Frank Frazetta. Provenance: The Alexander Gallery. Realized $3,162.50

Frank Frazetta - Original Sketch Art (undated). A man stands over the bed of a nude woman, removing his shirt, his stare seems to burn across the image. Soon, they are locked in a passionate embrace. These erotically-charged, pencil and brown ink wash sketches by Frank Frazetta, are truly sensual, showing us a carnal side to the Frazetta mystique, rarely seen in such a raw, uninhibited way. These randy sketches are drawn on both sides of a sheet of 10.75" x 13" sketch paper. The reverse side of this sketch page is covered with small female nudes, drawn in pencil, pen and ink and brown washes. The art is in incredible condition, with some very minimal signs of aging along the extreme edges. Signed by Frank Frazetta. Realized $2,817.50

Frank Frazetta - Original Preliminary Art for The Indomitable (undated). With their raw physical power and formidable weapons, Frank Frazetta's men are not someone you would want to meet in the street. This small, yet powerful, pencil and watercolor sketch is a preliminary for his painting, "The Indomitable", which was originally published in 1967 as the cover to "Conan the Warrior" by Robert E. Howard. This sketch measures approximately 4.5" x 4.5", a size not much larger than a cocktail napkin. Though small in stature, it's a gigantic demonstration of the pistons firing in Frazetta's creative mind, as he works through an idea from scratch. Signed by Frank Frazetta. Provenance: The Alexander Gallery. Realized $2,357.50

Alex Raymond - Original Comic Strip Art for Rip Kirby Daily dated 5-26-49 (King Features Syndicate, 1949). Possibly the most successful attempt to bring a private eye to the comics page, Rip Kirby was written and drawn by comics legend, Alex Raymond. None of Kirby's villains is as charming as evil temptress Pagan Lee, who started out in the strip as a mere moll, but managed to claw, scratch and kill her way up the ranks to the position of full-blown mobster. In this strip, dated 5-26-49, Pagan wraps Rip into yet another of her schemes. The overall art size is 7.75" x 21" with a 5.5" x 18.5" image area. The work is in wonderful shape, with some slight aging along the edges. Signed by Alex Raymond. Realized $1,265.00

Captain America #100 (Marvel, 1968) CGC NM+ 9.6 Off-white to white pages. The Cap breaks free in this first issue, a continuation from Tales of Suspense. Jack Kirby, with Syd Shores, handles art duties. An unbelievably sharp, bright and clean copy. Overstreet 2003 NM 9.4 value = $525. Realized $1,207.50

Bidding closed August 3, at 10pm CT. To bid in future auctions, simply go to Heritage’s web site www.HeritageComics.com, and join their free web community. Or write or e-mail Heritage for a printed or fax listing.

Heritage’s current ACA auction ends (and a new one begins) August 17, at 10pm CT. Call today to consign to a future auction, as the earliest consignments receive the most attention and publicity. Those interested in consigning to ACA or to Heritage’s live Signature auctions are invited to visit a special section on HCA's website www.heritagecomics.com/auctions/consigning.asp or call Lon Allen directly at 214-252-4261, or email at LonA@HeritageComics.com.

HCA specializes in rare, high-grade comic books, as well as vintage comic and animation art, illustration art, movie posters and comics-related collectibles.