Calling all art aficionados! Searching for the latest statement piece to add to your collection? Well, search no further, Hake’s Auctions has you covered! Auction #227 is packed with 2,047 desirable lots, including a portion dedicated to original comic art. 

Among the highlights to this selection is original Peanuts art personalized by Charles Shultz to Louanne Van Pelt, the daughter of a family friend who served as the inspiration and namesake for Lucy Van Pelt. This includes a four-panel artboard for the 1960 Peanuts daily strip featuring Charlie Brown and Linus Van Pelt playing baseball. The top has been inscribed “For Fritz & Lou – ‘Thus Endeth The Bridge Game’” and has been signed “Sparky” by Schulz. 

Another four-panel artboard from this collection features Linus Van Pelt presenting a letter to Charlie Brown asking for a new team manager, referring to their last manager as “A Real Blockhead.” This letter is later revealed to be from Lucy Van Pelt. This is the original art that Schulz submitted to the syndicate for publication in 1961. 

Showcased in another lot is a four-panel artboard of Charlie Brown seated at his school desk where teacher asks him for his 1,000-word essay on his summer. The top has been inscribed “For Fritz. My Good Friend, Who Gives Me All Those Great Ideas” and has been signed “Sparky” by Schulz.

A pair of 8-1/2” by 11” unlined sheets of paper featuring original art for “Li’l Folks” is also included in the Van Pelt collection. The sheet depicts a little girl walking down the street holding her father’s hand, proclaiming “Daddy’s Going To Take A Bath Tonight, And I’m Going To Wash His Back!” Inked text at the bottom of the sheet reads “From An Idea By Louanne.” 

Hake’s is also offering an extensive archive including a variety of personal correspondence between Schulz and the Van Pelt family spanning the 1950s through the 1980s. This lot includes assorted personal family photographs, signed Christmas cards, typed/signed letters, handwritten/signed letters and other assorted ephemera.

Aside from Peanuts-related collectibles, Auction #227 features a variety of comic book art. This includes an impressive 21-1/4” by 28” frame containing the painted cover to Project Superpowers #2 from Alex Ross. The photo-realistic cover depicts The Death-Defying ‘Devil’ throwing his trademark boomerang towards viewer, as The Flame points his flamethrower gun skyward. 

Original art by Jack “The King” Kirby is also crossing the block with Thor Vol. 1 #172 page 14. The page features five panels, following Thor as he is surprised by intricate Kirby machinery that sprays him with a hallucinogenic mist. The hero is seen exclaiming “By The Golden Gates Of Asgard” before succumbing to the mist's powers.

The Dark Knight himself stars in an original artboard for Batman #197 page 22 from artist Frank Springer and inker Sid Greene. The five-panel page shows Batman and Robin punching out three of Catwoman’s hechmen, as the next panel sees Batgirl helping Catwoman up. 

Also on offer is an original artboard by Gene Colan and inker Tom Palmer for page 11 of Daredevil Vol. 1 #80. Across the four-panel page, Daredevil is seen racing across a rooftop only to hear the approach of a helicopter, revealed in the last panel to be that his archnemesis The Owl. 

Finally, original arboard for Sub-Mariner Vol. 1 #53 page 2 by series creator Bill Everett is another feature of the sale. Namor the Sub-Mariner is seen persuading the Japanese mutant Sunfire to cease his attack on sailors and rescue them across four panels. This is one of Everett’s final works before his death in February 1973. 

These are just a few of the remarkable pieces being offered in Auction #227. Bidding has already and closes on July 10-11, 2019. To browse through further selections in Auction #227 and get started on bidding, visit hakes.com.