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Title: ZAP COMIX No. 2 * True 1st Printing ("Head First" Miscut) * Signed by Rick Griffin
Place Published:
Publisher:Apex Novelties
Date Published: July, 1968
Description:

NM- (9.2). A few tiny spine ticks, two near-invisible handling marks at top edge of front cover, very faint fingernail-mark (?) to "A" in "ZAP," barely worthy of mention. An exceptional copy. White pages. Signed by Rick Griffin on the inside front cover. Crumb cover. Art by Crumb, Moscoso, Williams, Griffin. Crumb cover. Art by Crumb, Moscoso, Williams, Griffin. According to Jay Kennedy's Official Underground and Newave Comix Price Guide, the first two printings both have a 50¢ cover price; the only difference is the cover stock. The 1st printing has 70 lb. stock, while Kennedy surmises that the 2nd print has 60 lb. stock. Years after Kennedy's guide was released, it was determined that the correct issue point for the 1st printing is that the S. Clay Wilson "Head First" strip on p. 40 is misaligned, so that the artwork is cut off at the bottom of the page. Because of this printing error, 4500 of the 5000 books in the print run were pulped; 500 copies were saved to be sold at an event at the Light Sound Dimension Gallery in San Francisco. Even fewer survive. The covers of the 4500 pulped copies were bound over the contents of the 2nd printing; hence, copies with heavy-stock covers and p. 40 not miscut are 2nd printings. Quite a few 2nd printings are being falsely circulated as firsts. Many collectors remain unaware of these fairly recent research discoveries, but thanks to the 2015 Fogel Underground Price Guide, word is spreading that the true first of Zap #2, limited to 500 copies, is by far the rarest comic in the series. Provenance: From the Collection of Gary Arlington, owner of the San Francisco Comic Book Company.

Rare true first printing of the second issue of ZAP. Signed by Rick Griffin. From the collection of early comic shop owner and Underground patron saint, Gary Arlington.

A limited edition of 150 softcover and 15 hardcover catalogues is available. 400 lots, fully illustrated. Fun reference, great keepsake. Softcover $30, deluxe hardcover with dust jacket and limitation plate $200. Ten of the 15 hardcovers are pre-ordered and the rest will go quickly, so reserve yours now. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Consignments welcome for PBA's December 2021 Comic Book sale. Top prices for Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age, Silver Age, original art and ephemera. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.