Tag Archive for: superman

Congressman to be sworn in on rare comic ‘Superman’ No. 1

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California Congressman Robert Garcia will be sworn into office on a copy of the Constitution, a photo of his parents, his citizenship certificate, and a copy of Superman #1. Photo credit: Congressman Garcia’s Twitter account

WASHINGTON – Superman is heading to Capitol Hill. Incoming Congressman Robert Garcia is being sworn in as a representative for California’s 42nd congressional district on a copy of the Constitution, a photo of his parents (both of whom died of COVID-19), his citizenship certificate, and a copy of Superman #1 that the Library of Congress is loaning for the occasion.

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Pop culture rarities, Americana drive Hake’s auction total to $2.4M

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Encased Star Wars (1978) 3.75in Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi 12 Back-A double-telescoping lightsaber action figure with SKU on footer denoted earlier production, AFA 75 Ex+/NM. Extremely rare and only the third carded specimen of its type ever to be offered by Hake’s. Sold for $79,178. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions

Encased Star Wars (1978) 3.75in Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi 12 Back-A double-telescoping lightsaber action figure with SKU on footer denoted earlier production, AFA 75 Ex+/NM. Extremely rare and only the third carded specimen of its type ever to be offered by Hake’s. Sold for $79,178. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions

YORK, Pa. – Financial markets may be taking a breather, but there’s never a time out for those who pursue investment-grade vintage collectibles. Hake’s, the auction house that lit the fire for America’s pop culture obsession 55 years ago, rang up yet another high-flying auction total on November 15-16, achieving excellent prices across many specialty categories and closing the books at $2.4 million.

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Encased Star Wars (1978) 3.75in Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi 12 Back-A double-telescoping lightsaber action figure with SKU on footer denoted earlier production, AFA 75 Ex+/NM. Extremely rare and only the third carded specimen of its type ever to be offered by Hake’s. Estimate $100,000-$200,000. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions

Hake’s brings more rare Star Wars, vintage video games to auction, Nov. 15-16

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Encased Star Wars (1978) 3.75in Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi 12 Back-A double-telescoping lightsaber action figure with SKU on footer denoted earlier production, AFA 75 Ex+/NM. Extremely rare and only the third carded specimen of its type ever to be offered by Hake’s. Estimate $100,000-$200,000. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions

Encased Star Wars (1978) 3.75in Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi 12 Back-A double-telescoping lightsaber action figure with SKU on footer denoted earlier production, AFA 75 Ex+/NM. Extremely rare and only the third carded specimen of its type ever to be offered by Hake’s. Estimate $100,000-$200,000. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions

YORK, Pa. – The quest for early Star Wars collectibles has reached a fevered pitch, but the auction market tells us the journey is just beginning. Interest in Star Wars items is stronger than ever, especially for prototypes and samples, rare variations, and toys produced in low numbers or no numbers at all. To some, it may seem that Hake’s – the auction house holding numerous world records for Star Wars material – has already sold the ultimate rarities from that wildly popular category. But exciting surprises continue to emerge, some from unexpected sources, and those fresh consignments and new discoveries will be front and center at Hake’s November 15-16 pop culture auction. View the fully illustrated catalog on LiveAuctioneers.

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Hake’s Nov. 15-16 auction answers demand for Star Wars collectibles, vintage video games

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Left: ‘Journey Into Mystery’ #83, August 1962, features origin and first appearance of Marvel’s God of Thunder, The Mighty Thor. CGC 5.5 Fine. Estimate $10,000-$20,000; Right: Marvel ‘Tales Of Suspense’ #39, March 1963, features origin and first appearance of Iron Man. CGC 4.5 VG+. Estimate $10,000-$20,000

YORK, Pa. – The quest for early Star Wars collectibles has reached a fevered pitch, but the auction market tells us the journey is just beginning. Interest in Star Wars items is stronger than ever, especially for prototypes and samples, rare variations, and toys produced in low numbers or no numbers at all. To some, it may seem that Hake’s – the auction house holding numerous world records for Star Wars material – has already sold the ultimate rarities from that wildly popular category. But exciting surprises continue to emerge, some from unexpected sources, and those fresh consignments and new discoveries will be front and center at Hake’s November 15-16 pop culture auction.

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An education in back-to-school-themed collectibles

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Selling well above its high estimate, this oil on board by Amos Sewell, titled ‘Back to School,’ achieved $90,000 plus the buyer’s premium in May 2019. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

Selling well above its high estimate, this oil-on-board by Amos Sewell, titled ‘Back to School,’ achieved $90,000 plus the buyer’s premium in May 2019. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — Goodbye swimsuits, hello backpacks. The arrival of the end of August and the Labor Day weekend signifies the unofficial end of summer as schools ready to reopen. There’s no better time to look at classic children’s books that have become fixtures of school classrooms and libraries and delighted families at home.

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Hake's Auctions

Market-watchers pounced on rare comic art & action figures at Hake’s $2.7M auction

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One of six lots of Al Williamson (1931-2020) original, unpublished concept art that preceded the ‘Star Wars’ daily newspaper comic strip (which was ultimately written and drawn by Russ Manning and ran from 1979-1984). Of 12 proposal strips created by Williamson, the first six were gifted to George Lucas; the other six were given to Star Wars marketing genius Charles Lippincott, whose widow has consigned them to Hake’s. Sold for $46,730

YORK, Pa. – Original comic strip art continues to solidify its position alongside fine art in the collector marketplace, with the latest proof coming on day two of Hake’s July 26-27 auction of pop culture rarities. Amongst the highlights of the $2.7 million sale was a selection of six consecutive lots of original concept art created in the late 1970s for a proposed Star Wars daily newspaper comic strip. Drawn by legendary comic strip artist Al Williamson (1931-2020) as part of a series of twelve strips, the artworks never saw publication.

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James Bond Secret Agent 007 Shooting Attache Case, est. $2,500-$5,000

James Bond toys offer a license to bid at Potter & Potter, June 16

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James Bond Secret Agent 007 Shooting Attache Case, est. $2,500-$5,000

James Bond Secret Agent 007 Shooting Attache Case, est. $2,500-$5,000

CHICAGO – Potter & Potter Auctions will hold a nearly 700-lot sale of entertainment-related ephemera and materials, Walt Disney World park-used items, mid-century playthings, erotica, and other eclectic merchandise on Saturday, June 16 starting at 10 am Central time. Many of the rock and roll related lots are from the collection of Bo Overlock, concert organizer and the former director of marketing and promotions for VH1. The sale also features a lifetime collection of vintage James Bond toys and collectables. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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This cover illustration for the Incredible Hulk #283 by Ed Hannigan (Marvel, May 1983) ticks all the boxes, but the fact that it was in color had no effect on its performance at auction. It attained $33,314 including the buyer’s premium in March 2022. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

Original comic book art: next-level collecting

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This cover illustration for the Incredible Hulk #283 by Ed Hannigan (Marvel, May 1983) ticks all the boxes, but the fact that it was in color had no effect on its performance at auction. It attained $33,314 including the buyer’s premium in March 2022. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

This cover illustration for the Incredible Hulk #283 by Ed Hannigan (Marvel, May 1983) ticks all the boxes, but the fact that it was in color had no effect on its performance at auction. It attained $33,314 including the buyer’s premium in March 2022. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — People of all ages buy comic books to read for pleasure, and a subset of them enjoy collecting investment-grade examples. Still others chase the original hand-drawn illustrations that are reproduced en masse in the actual comic books. “This is another level of fan that very much revels in owning one-of-a-kind works of art,” said Alex Winter, president of Hake’s Auctions in York, Pennsylvania. “It is this unique nature that makes comic art highly sought after by that crowd.”

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Original comic book artwork of page 25 from Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars No. 8, rendered by Mike Zeck in 1984. It commanded $3.3 million and a new world auction record. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

Spider-Man original comic book artwork sells for record $3.3M

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Original comic book artwork of page 25 from Secret Wars No. 8, rendered by Mike Zeck in 1984, commanded $3.3 million and a new world auction record. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

Original comic book artwork of page 25 from Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars No. 8, rendered by Mike Zeck in 1984. It commanded $3.3 million and a new world auction record. Courtesy Heritage Auctions

DALLAS – Spider-Man was already the star of the most expensive comic book ever sold at auction. As of January 13, the Web-Slinger is also credited with what is now the world’s most valuable page of original comic book artwork. Page 25 from 1984’s Secret Wars No. 8, which tells the origin story of the Web-Slinger’s now-iconic black costume, sold at Heritage Auctions for $3,360,000.

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Metal lunchboxes serve up a feast of retro icons

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This unused Superman lunchbox with Thermos achieved $2,200 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2017 at Hake’s Auctions. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

This unused Superman lunchbox with Thermos achieved $2,200 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2017 at Hake’s Auctions. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — For many kids of the postwar generation, the best part of back-to-school shopping was not the clothes or the annual trip to Buster Brown to get a new pair of shoes, but choosing a lunchbox. Brown-bagging your PB&J sandwich became a thing of the past with the advent of bright and colorful metal lunchboxes decorated with child-friendly characters or favorite media stars. In school cafeterias from as early as the 1930s through the early 1980s, a parade of sturdy lunchboxes featured fictional and real-world stars such as Mickey Mouse, Batman, Strawberry Shortcake, Superman, the Beatles and Scooby Doo.

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