DALLAS – The original art for the cover of Superman No. 12 (DC, 1941) by Fred Ray – the earliest piece of art from the comic book series to ever surface – saved from the trash bin more than 70 years ago by legendary Batman artist Jerry Robinson, will make its first ever public auction appearance as the centerpiece of Heritage Auctions’ May 28-30 Comics Signature® Auction.
LiveAuctioneers.com will provide absentee and Internet live bidding.
The cover, one of the most iconic Superman covers, shows the Man of Steel marching arm in arm with two of America’s brave sailors and soldiers, ready to defend their country against the Axis threat.
Equally as important is the fact that one of the greatest Batman artists of all time, Jerry Robinson, who was also a close friend of Fred Ray, asked DC Comics for the art after the issue had published. Robinson died in 2011, kept the art for more than 70 years. It has been consigned to auction by his family.
Robinson’s work is also featured in the top comic book lot of the auction, as a copy of Batman No. 1 (DC, 1940) CGC-Graded VG+ 4.5. The No. 6 comic book on Overstreet’s Top 100 Golden Age Comics list is expected to bring $80,000 or more when it comes across the block.
A nice copy of Captain America Comics No. 1 (Timely, 1941), CGC-grade FN- 5.5 – famously featuring Cap knocking out Hitler – joins Batman at the top of the comics pile in the auction with an equal estimate of $80,000-plus.
Alex Raymond’s original Sunday comic strip art for Flash Gordon June 12, 1936 (King Features Syndicate) is a sterling example of the best of Raymond’s iconic work on the classic strip and it should bring more than $50,000.
Superman No. 14 (DC, 1942) CGC NM- 9.2, a classic Superman cover on an issue tied for highest grade to date, is estimated at $25,000-plus.
