CHICAGO — The pre-code and golden age comic book collection of noted bibliophile Stephen Farber comes to market in a 269-lot sale at Potter & Potter on Thursday, January 11. The catalog is now available for bidding at LiveAuctioneers.
“Many of these comics have not surfaced in decades, several of which having received the highest grades from CGC,” noted Director of Fine Books and Manuscripts at Potter & Potter, Chris Brink, adding, “The crowning piece of this collection is a Captain America #1, which recently hammered for $3.1 million in a near-perfect grade.”
Captain America Comics #1, estimated at $40,000-$60,000, was published by Timely Comics in March of 1941 and features the debut appearances of Captain America, Red Skull and Bucky. The cover art by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby has Captain America punching Hitler, which is interesting because the U.S. had yet to enter World War II after the Imperial Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the Third Reich had not yet received the domestic propaganda spotlight that would come. The comic is considered one of the 10 most valuable comic books today, ranking as #7 in Overstreet’s 100 Golden Age Comics.
Human Torch #2 (#1) was published by Timely Comics in 1940 and has pedigree to the legendary Recil Macon collection. It features World War II cover art by Alex Schomburg and contains the first appearance of Toro, one of the first mutant superheroes, along with the origins of both the Human Torch and Sub-Mariner. Currently tied for #45 on Overstreet’s Top 100 Golden Age Comics, it is estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
Published by Marvel Comics in 1963, Amazing Spider-Man #1 has a Steve Ditko cover and artwork and retells Spider-Man’s origins, has the first Fantastic Four crossover, and includes the debut appearances of J. Jonah Jameson, John Jameson, and the Chameleon. Number 7 on Overstreet’s Top 50 Silver Age Comics, Amazing Spider-Man #1 is estimated at $10,000-$15,000.
This final issue of the title, Weird Tales of the Future #8 has pedigree to the famous White Mountain collection and is the only copy in VF+ 8.5 white pages condition, the highest grade from CGC. It is estimated at $10,000-$15,000.
Haunt of Fear #15 (#1) is estimated at $8,000-$12,000. This William S. Gaines file copy was published by E.C. Comics in 1950 and is the first issue of the title. It’s listed as “scarce” by Overstreet and is currently the #9 book on Overstreet’s Top Ten Horror Comics list. This lot includes its original Gaines collection COA.
