Pedigree Comics’ A-May-Zing Spider-Man Auction is now open, featuring a near-complete run of Amazing Spider-Man issues in CGC-certified 9.8/9.6 condition. The auction began on Monday, May 3, 2021, and lasts for ten days until Thursday, May 13 as a separate event on the Pedigree Comics website.
The first half of lots (Amazing Spider-Man #17 9.6 Pacific Coast through #362 9.8) ends at 8:35 PM ET on Wednesday, May 12 and the second half of lots (Amazing Spider-Man #363 9.8 through Giant-Size Spider-Man #5 9.8) ends at 8:35 PM ET on Thursday, May 13.
There is no buyer’s premium on any of the lots in the auction and every lot is listed without a reserve. Every book is CGC-graded and the minimum bid is $20 for this Spider-Man exclusive auction. The comics are open for bids on Pedigree’s website by clicking on the auction banner.
The Amazing Spider-Man collection (called the Southern Mass. Collection) contains almost 700 issues, including #17-616 plus Annuals #2-3 and #5-19 and Giant-Size Spider-Man #1-5. Most of the issues are CGC-graded 9.8. Issues 17-51 are mostly 9.6 with a few 9.8 and a couple of 9.4, while issues 52-616 are all in 9.8 save for a couple in 9.6. This is the nicest and largest group of Amazing Spider-Man issues that Pedigree has offered. Most books are the highest certified copy to date and there are a number of pedigree copies in the collection.
The Massachusetts-based collector consolidated his other Marvel runs and raw books into this high grade Amazing Spider-Man run. He began collecting as a kid, buying mostly Marvel superhero books like Amazing Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men. Through the ‘90s and early 2000s, he built his collection via eBay, through dealers, and at conventions. When CGC opened in ’99, he began sending his Spider-Man books in for certification. By the mid-2000s he had a complete run of Amazing Spider-Man #50-200, mostly in CGC 9.6. Since he wanted only the best books, he started upgrading to get the highest graded copies he could find.
The collector’s goal of finding high grade issues meant that he avoided books with lower page quality or other imperfections. Most of the comics have white pages with the rest off-white to white and only three with off-white. Almost every issue in #200-616 (save for a handful) has white pages and all the Giant-Size issues and most of the Annuals have white pages. He focused on the best staple placement and he sought books with no stress lines. He was picky about eye appeal and centering, so most of the books appear unread. The collector also hunted for pedigree copies, adding many to his collection, starting with Amazing Spider-Man #17 9.6 Pacific Coast copy.
The collection took almost 20 years to put together and he decided now was the right time to sell. Since he had purchased books from Pedigree, he contacted Pedigree CEO and President Doug Schmell in March 2021 to discuss selling the entire collection. According to Schmell, a series of negotiations landed at a purchase price of $425,000 for the collection.
Highlights of the Southern Mass. Collection include Amazing Spider-Man #17 9.6 (Pacific Coast), #18 9.8, #20 9.8 (Curator), #23 9.6, #25 9.6 (Suscha News), #27 9.8 (Pacific Coast), #29 9.6 (Pacific Coast), #31 9.6, #35 9.6 (Pacific Coast), #37 9.8, #39 9.8, #40 9.6, #41 9.6 (Boston), #44 9.6, #46 9.6 (Twin Cities), #50 9.4, #51 9.6, #54 9.8 (Northland), #55 9.8, #60 9.8, #63 9.6, #72 9.8, #77 9.8, #78 9.8, #89 9.8, #90 9.8, #100 9.8, #101 9.8, #102 9.8, #121 9.8, #122 9.8, #124 9.8, #129 9.6, #135 9.8, #194 9.8, #210 9.8, #238 9.8, #252 9.8, #300 9.8, and #316 9.8, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 9.6 and #3 9.8 (Rocky Mountain), and Giant-Size Spider-Man #4 9.8.
Questions or comments about the A-MAY-Zing Spider-Man Auction, can be addressed to Schmell at (561) 422-1120 (office) or (561) 596-9111 (cell) or at DougSchmell@pedigreecomics.com. Financial related and consignment payment questions, can be sent to their CFO, Lisa Shapiro, at LisaJoy@pedigreecomics.com and technical related questions or concerns, can be sent to the Web Master at WebDesigner@pedigreecomics.com.