Done
Berkeley, CA, United States
Auction Details
Comic Books: Pre-Code Horror & Other Comics
PBA Galleries
Greetings, gang, and welcome to PBA?s fifth comic book sale. Fright fans will be pleased to see that once again our focus is on the seedy underbelly of the comics world: the ?terrifying, shocking, sensational, appalling, forbidden? but simply wonderful? pre-Code horror comic books of the 1950s. As usual, we?ve tried to delve beneath the surface of this fascinating category with our signature blend of research and commentary. Despite the surge in interest in pre-Code horror, we feel that these books have yet to receive their proper due ? they?ve become very attractive as investment collectibles, to be sure, but we think they?re even more valuable for the insights that they yield to careful observers. In his influential anti-comics opus Seduction of the Innocent, Dr. Fredric Wertham claimed to detect hidden content embedded in these lurid pamphlets: ?In ordinary comic books, there are pictures within pictures for children who know how to look.? Granted that Wertham was a bit of a plonker, but we?re not unsympathetic to this particular claim of his ? indeed, we believe that a hidden psychosexual portrait of midcentury America is buried in the pulpy pages of old horror comics, and we?ve made it our business to try and bring this shadowy portrait to light, one pre-Code mag at a time. We hope that you?ll find our efforts diverting.
Sale highlights include a complete run of Stanley Morse?s WEIRD MYSTERIES, including another copy of #5, a gruesome classic that?s become PBA?s pre-Code calling card (we?ve offered copies in three of our four previous outings); a near-complete run of MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES and its sister title FIGHT AGAINST CRIME, including a 6.5 copy of FAC #20 (infamous severed head cover); Avon?s EERIE #1, the first true horror comic; a rare and possibly unique misprint copy of DARK MYSTERIES #19, with the inside covers not only printed upside-down, but with another company?s name in the indicia; a Yankee version of CHAMBER OF CHILLS #23, featuring one of th
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![Wertham's "The Comics... Very Funny!" in The Saturday Review of Literature, 1948: Heading: Author: [Wertham, Fredric]Title: Saturday Review of Literature Vol. XXXI, No. 22: "The Comics... Very Funny!" * Fredric Wertham File Copy Place Published: Publisher:Saturday Review](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621382_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)



![ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS #5 * 4.5 * Two by TOTH: Heading: Author: Title: ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS No. 5 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: August, 1952 Description: VG+ (4.5). 2" split at bottom](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621386_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS #9 * 3.5 * Classic TOTH Story * Eaten by CRAYFISH: Heading: Author: Title: ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS No. 9 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: April, 1953 Description: VG- (3.5). Small nick to spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621387_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS #s 6 & 7 * Groping Ghosts and Beatnik Killers: Heading: Author: Title: ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS Nos. 6 and 7 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: 1952 Description: #6: Fair (1.0). Spine split and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621388_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![ALL-FAMOUS POLICE CASES #15 * 4.5 * L.B. Cole Cover: Heading: Author: Title: ALL-FAMOUS POLICE CASES No. 15 Place Published: Publisher:Star [Indicia: Star Publications, Inc.] Date Published: June, 1954 Description: VG+ (4.5). Mild spine stress, some](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621389_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![ALL-TRUE DETECTIVE STORIES #3 * 2.5 * Avon Crime Mag * Kinstler Cover: Heading: Author: Title: ALL-TRUE DETECTIVE STORIES No. 3 Place Published: Publisher:Avon [Indicia: Avon Periodicals, Inc.] Date Published: June-July, 1954 Description: Good+ (2.5). 2" split to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621390_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![ALL-TRUE ROMANCE #9 * CGC 2.5 * Blonde Bamboozles Buffoons * Rare: Heading: Author: Title: ALL-TRUE ROMANCE No. 9 Place Published: Publisher:Comic Media [Indicia: Harwell Publications, Inc.] Date Published: January, 1953 Description: CGC certified: Good+ (2.5).](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621391_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![ASTONISHING #s 13, 14 & 19 * Lot of 3 Atlas Comics: Heading: Author: Title: ASTONISHING Nos. 13, 14, 19 * Lot of Three Comics Place Published: Publisher:Atlas [Indicia: 20th Century Comic Corp.] Date Published: 1952 Description: #13: Fair/Good (1.5).](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621392_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES #2 * 3.0 * Jack COLE Story * Testicular TRAGEDY: Heading: Author: Title: AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES No. 2 Place Published: Publisher:St. John [Indicia: St. John Publishing Co.] Date Published: October, 1948 Description: G/VG (3.0). Light spine stress,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621393_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES #13 * 4.0 * Matt BAKER Cover & Story: Heading: Author: Title: AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES No. 13 Place Published: Publisher:St. John [Indicia: St. John Publishing Co.] Date Published: May, 1951 Description: VG (4.0). Spine roll, staples a](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621394_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES #17 * 4.0 * Matt BAKER Cover: Heading: Author: Title: AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES No. 17 Place Published: Publisher:St. John [Indicia: St. John Publishing Co.] Date Published: February, 1952 Description: VG (4.0). Spine roll, light](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621395_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES #23 * 4.5 * Matt BAKER Cover: Heading: Author: Title: AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES No. 23 Place Published: Publisher:St. John [Indicia: St. John Publishing Co.] Date Published: November, 1952 Description: VG+ (4.5). Light spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621396_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BATTLE CRY #1 * CGC 6.0 * Roasted RED * Pinko's-Eye-View: Heading: Author: Title: BATTLE CRY No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Stanmor Publications, Inc.] Date Published: May, 1952 Description: CGC certified: Fine (6.0). Off-white to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621397_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BATTLE CRY #2 * 5.5 * Racial Rhetoric * Transfusion Confusion: Heading: Author: Title: BATTLE CRY No. 2 Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Stanmor Publications, Inc.] Date Published: July, 1952 Description: Fine- (5.5). Light spine stress, a few](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621398_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BATTLE CRY #3 * 4.0 * Dogfaces of DEATH * Low Mentality Morse Mag: Heading: Author: Title: BATTLE CRY No. 3 Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Stanmor Publications, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1952 Description: VG (4.0). Light spine stress and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621399_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BATTLE CRY #5 * 4.5 * EC Swipe Cover * Novick Blowback: Heading: Author: Title: BATTLE CRY No. 5 Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Stanmor Publications, Inc.] Date Published: January-February, 1953 Description: VG+ (4.5). Light spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621400_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BATTLE CRY #'s 6, 12 & 13 * Lot of 3 Mags * 3.0-4.5 * Eat Lead Ya Lousy RED: Heading: Author: Title: BATTLE CRY: Lot of Three issues Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Stanmor Publications, Inc.] Date Published: 1953-1954 Description: #6: G/VG (3.0). 1/2"](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621401_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BEWARE! TERROR TALES #2 * 4.0 * Bernard BAILY * Makings of MISERY: Heading: Author: Title: BEWARE! TERROR TALES No. 2 Place Published: Publisher:Fawcett [Indicia: Fawcett Publications, Inc.] Date Published: July, 1952 Description: VG (4.0). Spine a bit rubbed and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621402_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BEWARE! TERROR TALES #5 * 4.0 * Bernard BAILY * Hell of HORROR: Heading: Author: Title: BEWARE! TERROR TALES No. 5 Place Published: Publisher:Fawcett [Indicia: Fawcett Publications, Inc.] Date Published: January, 1953 Description: VG (4.0). Cover detached at](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621403_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
