During Heritage Auctions’ Illustration Art Auction – held on October 13, 2017 in Dallas, Texas – the $1 million sale saw impressive examples by Patrick Nagel and Robert McGinnis smash world records. 

Nagel’s Bold, circa 1980s, realized $200,000, surpassing the previous record of $161,000 set by Heritage in 2014. Meanwhile, McGinnis’ 2002 original DVD illustration art for Casino Royale set an artist auction record when it brought in $47,500, against a $15,000 estimate.

“This auction was rich with fresh-to-market quality material and collectors took advantage of the opportunity. We remain the No. 1 house for hard-to-source artworks from the peak of popular culture,” said Ed Jaster, Senior Vice President at Heritage Auctions.

Hugh Joseph Ward’s 1942 original cover art, Undercover Man, from Private Detective magazine fetched $81,250, while his over art for Hollywood Detective magazine sold for $10,625. Chesley Bonestell’s interior illustration, Atomic Bombing of New York, from Collier’s Magazine sold for $27,500 and Harry Anderson’s original art titled Gangway from a 1937 Cream of Wheat ad campaign hammered for $20,000.

Examples of classic American pin-up art generated intense interest as Nagel’s Susan, reached for $47,500 and Gil Elvgren’s 1946 illustration titled We Had a Little Falling Out brought in for $30,000. Back Bend on Toes Ballet, Ice Capades (1962) by George Petty sold for $27,500 and a second from his Ice Capades series, titled Dutch Girl (1948) ended at $9,373.

Additional highlights include We’ll Feel Right at Home. The Travel Guide Says There are Bats in the Belfry (1984) a Mobil Oil advertisement by Charles Samuel Adams, sold for $17,500; Impromptu Concert (1950) a U.S. Brewers Foundation advertisement by John Gannam realized for $11,250; and America Give a Hand, To the Men of the Merchant Marine, the original art for a classic propaganda poster, by Rockwell Kent which brought in $10,625.