The market for tangible assets too often fixates on outlier record prices and doesn’t pay nearly enough attention to the general rise in price level. We’ve seen comic books sell for seven figures. But in Heritage Auctions’ recent Dallas sale of Comics and Comic Art, there were 14 lots that made more than $1m. The mid-November sale totaled $8.75m but the big news was the number of six-figure sales—and the depth the bidding on those lots:
- Seventeen bidders made their pitch for the auction’s top lot, Journey Into Mystery #83 (Marvel, 1962) CGC NM 9.4 White Pages before it finally hammered at $191,200
- Detective Comics #33 (DC, 1939) CGC VF 8.0 Cream to Off-White Pages, which rose all the way to $167,300
- More than tripling its pre-auction estimate, more than a dozen bidders made a play for Robert Crumb Your Hytone Comics Complete 8-Page Story Original Art (Apex Novelties, 1971) before it ultimately realized $167,300
- A copy with the second-highest grade ever offered through Heritage Auctions of Fantastic Four #1 (Marvel, 1961) CGC VF/NM 9.0 Off-White to White Pages brought $161,325
- Showcase #4 The Flash (DC, 1956) CGC VF+ 8.5 White Pages is a sparkling copy that drew more bids (22) than any other among the top 10 lots, ultimately drawing a return of $155,350
- Tales of Suspense #39 (Marvel, 1963) CBCS NM+ 9.6 White Pages drew the attention of numerous bidders until it ultimately went for $155,350
- Showcase #22 Green Lantern (DC, 1959) CGC NM- 9.2 Cream to Off-White Pages: $149,375
- Robert Crumb Complete Sketchbook Original Art (circa 1970): $143,400
- Robert Crumb Your Hytone Comics Complete 3-Page Story Original Art (Apex Novelties, 1971): $143,400
- The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM 9.4 Off-White to White Pages: $131,450
- Detective Comics #31 (DC, 1939) CGC VG/FN 5.0 Off-White to White Pages: $131,450
