Al Feldstein Tales from the Crypt #23 Cover Original Art (EC, 1951). Come into th...

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Al Feldstein Tales from the Crypt #23 Cover Original Art (EC, 1951). Come into the Crypt of Terror with this hair-raising cover sure to send chills down your spine!
When collectors think of pre-Code horror, this iconic cover is the first thought for many because it was featured on two classic EC publications released decades apart. Created for the story "Last Respects!" illustrated by Graham Ingels, Al Feldstein's cover lives up to the series' titular terrifying crypt with a scene of undead horror in a locked mausoleum. The cover differs notably from the story, with the cover featuring a male corpse and the story a female corpse. EC horror comics were pivotal in reimaging the popular conception of the living dead, and this is an excellent example of their macabre influence on pop culture.
This image was also famously used as the cover for the beloved Nostalgia Press Horror Comics of the 1950's oversized hardcover EC collection which introduced pre-Code horror comics to a new generation of fans, making it one of the most important horror covers of all time; a pivotal moment in horror and EC fandom, many affectionately refer to the 1971 hardcover as simply "The Big Book". As EC Editor, Al Feldstein designed the Crypt-Keeper and shaped much of the New Trend line, and by extension the entirety of pre-Code horror; this embodies his excellent contributions to the much-loved genre maligned in its heyday.
The piece was created in ink over graphite on Bristol board with an image area of 12.25" x 13.5", and signed in the lower right. The title/logo masthead, "Featuring..." text balloon, and three Horror Hosts are all modern stat reproductions; the dialogue balloon is an original stat paste-up. The piece has toning, staining, and creasing commensurate with age, but presents as well or better than much existing Golden Age original art. The piece overall is in Very Good condition while the image area is in Excellent condition.
From The Richard Pujol EC Art Collection.

More Information: All of us here in the Comics department take a great deal of pride in handling the scores of incredible collections we’re privileged to offer—and while the quality of our highlights over the last two decades is as mind-blowing to us as anyone, I think it’s safe to say that those that continue to resonate the most come from collectors with whom we’ve developed a personal relationship.

In terms of pure objective quality, Rich Pujol’s legendary collection of EC original art is truly without peer. He bought virtually all of it directly from Russ Cochran’s initial 1970s-80s EC auctions, becoming the first—and up to this point, only—owner of some of the greatest examples from publisher Bill Gaines’ vault. The combination of impeccable art by every major artist in the EC stable, staggering overall depth, as represented by dozens of covers and complete stories, and the fact that none of this art has really ever been seen (much less offered for sale) but only whispered about by even the most advanced collectors, make this collection unrivaled and without a doubt the best and largest "first generation" group of EC art remaining.

Paying tribute to and setting record results for such a world-class selection of comic art is of course what Heritage is built for, but my personal connection to Rich makes this offering all the more special, as I first met him when I was a young teenager in the 1980s, not only making my earliest art acquisitions but also getting a crash course in comics history. Back in those early, heady days of original art collecting, Rich was in an absolutely ideal position: he possessed a discerning eye for quality spanning the entire history of comics, from the earliest Golden Age artists to contemporary masters, thus immediately realized what an incredible opportunity those EC auctions represented; he was a passionate fan, who basically never sold once a choice item entered his collection; he ran, along with his brother Bob, a pioneering and thriving comic shop in St. Louis, Missouri—B&R Comix—so had the disposable income to devote to his art collection; and crucially, St. Louis was in close enough proximity to Russ Cochran’s home base of White Plains, Missouri that he was able to visit and view virtually all of the EC art in person prior to each auction (there were no hi-res scans back then!). This allowed him to prioritize his want list based on the beauty and condition of each page and cover, an opportunity very few collectors could have taken advantage of at the time. Being able to handle these amazing originals not only greatly expanded Rich’s appreciation for the artistry that went into the finest comic art but also changed how he ranked various artists and directly informed how aggressively he pursued examples for his collection. It was a once-in-a-lifetime window to evaluate and acquire the best of the best in considerable depth—which is the opportunity we’re now pleased to present to you.

The six lots that follow are a characteristic sampling of the kinds of treasures Rich focused on—primarily key covers and stories, among the most memorable ever published by EC—and selections will continue to be offered in our Signature Comic Art auctions in 2026 and beyond. We’re all incredibly honored to be entrusted with such a jaw-dropping and important collection. And I’m incredibly honored to be working directly with Rich, a truly great collector and my earliest comic art friend and mentor.

—Todd Hignite


More information about Al Feldstein. See also: Feldstein, Al, Albert Feldstein, Feldstein, Albert Artist. Lookup the Comic Book in our Guide