Page #9 from the very first issue of Vertigo’s historic title Sandman recently brought $15,000 on eBay. The page was signed by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith and Mike Dringenberg. Gaiman personalized the page by adding “a profitable evening’s work”. The quote not only references the importance of the page itself but is literally part of the dialogue on the page.
The art is an extraordinary example of what made the title so innovative as well as so interesting. The pen and ink work is clean and very crisp. The Bristol board holding the art measures 13 1/8 by 19 ½ which a bit larger than the more commonly used board measuring 11 by 17. Almost all the other Sandman art was drawn on the smaller style boards.
