An original-owner 1940s comic book collection that lay dormant for many years, totally unknown to the collecting world, crossed the auction block with a “biff-bang-pow” at Morphy’s Aug. 12-13, 2011 auction. The privately held collection that came from a residence only five miles from the Morphy gallery consisted of ultra-desirable superhero, adventure and monster/suspense comics of the World War II era.
The consignor, who is the daughter of the man who amassed the collection, had hopes of its making $35,000 or maybe even $40,000 on a good day, said Dan Morphy, CEO of Morphy Auctions.
“The comics turned out to be a big hit and went well beyond those expectations,” Morphy said. “In total, the 217 comic-book lots brought in $97,000.” Combined with the toys, marbles and banks offered during the two-day sale, the auction event grossed $531,000.
Top lot was a 1948 Phantom Lady #17 featuring a bright and colorful “headlight” bondage cover. Estimated at $600-$800, it soared to $4,400.
Other strong sellers included a 1944 All Select Comics #5, which earned $3,250; and a 1944 All Select Comics #3, which sold for $3,500. An example of 1941 Startling Comics #49, whose cover art features an Alex Schomburg image of a robot wading through water with a frightened woman in his arms, attracted cross-over interest from robot collectors and was bid to $2,900.
“This collection was a completely fresh find,” Morphy said. “About a dozen serious bidders were after the premium titles. There was widespread interest, and the sale was very well attended.”
Morphy explained that the comic books had been purchased brand new in the 1940s, straight off the newsstand. “They remained in the collector’s home for 50 to 60 years and were very well cared for. The collector was an adult at the time he bought the comics, and based on their surprisingly fine condition, it’s obvious that he had the presence of mind to keep them away from sunlight. He was ahead of his time in preserving them as collectibles.”
After the collector passed away eight years ago, the comics became the property of his daughter, who, although unaware of their monetary value, made sure they were bagged and properly stored away. “She appreciated the artwork and liked the comics. She felt they should be protected from the elements,” said Morphy’s ephemera specialist Mike Landis.
After purchasing a comic book price guide and looking up some of the titles, the collector’s daughter discovered the comics were quite valuable. “She and her husband kept going over the entries and values in the price guide. They couldn’t believe what they were reading – they were flabbergasted,” said Landis.
The comics were brought in to Morphy Auctions’ gallery, where they were immediately accepted for consignment to the Aug. 12-13 sale.
“We knew they were going to do great as soon as we started getting calls from collectors offering to buy some of them outright for double and triple the high estimates,” said Morphy. “Of course we did not pull any comics from the auction. We had a responsibility to the consignor and knew the comics would make much more money at auction than if sold privately.”
The day after the auction, the comic books were “the talk of Renninger’s,” said Morphy, referring to the popular Sunday antiques market in Adamstown, Pa., less than a mile from the Morphy Auctions gallery. “Everyone thought it was very exciting that this collection had come from a local source.”
“We can’t wait for the next opportunity to sell a comic book collection like the one we just auctioned,” Morphy continued. “It generated a lot of excitement and we really enjoyed dealing with the collectors. They really know their stuff, and they’re passionate about what they collect.”
Highlights included:
All Select Comics #5, $3,250
Phantom Lady #17, $4,400
Startling Comics #49, $2,900
All Select Comics #3, $3,500
To contact Morphy Auctions, call 717-335-3435 or e-mail serena@morphyauctions.com. Visit: Morphy’s online at www.MorphyAuctions.com.
