It’s fairly normal hyperbole in the comic book market to describe witnesses to this and that as “stunned,” but it’s a good thing to actually see it happen. Over the October 8-10, 2010 weekend at the New York Comic Con, a good number of collectors were actually momentarily stunned when they realized they were looking at the original art for Superman #14, certainly the most iconic Golden Age superhero original cover art known to still exist.
Auction house ComicConnect.com said, “Word spread like wildfire across the convention floor,” as fans and dealers realized it was on display
On November 10, 2010 at 12 PM ET, bidding will open for Fred Ray’s famous “patriotic shield” cover to Superman #14 (January - February 1942), as well as Jerry Robinson’s “double guns” Joker cover to Detective Comics #69 (November 1942).
“Of course there’s always a chance that someone might have another highly significant early Golden Age cover in an undocumented collection that is out there just waiting to be discovered, but one would likely have to consider this the most important Golden Age comic cover still extant. Superman #14 is not only a great Superman pose, it’s an important patriotic image from World War II. It might well be the very definition of the term ‘iconic’ in the original comic art market,” said Robert M. Overstreet, author and publisher of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.
In 1942, the first waves of American superheroes were clearly at the height of their considerable powers. No two superheroes stood taller than Superman and Batman. Rarely is one able to gaze upon pieces of art that so perfectly captures a moment in time. A moment in time made up of one part innocence, one part patriotism and one part pure fantasy escapism. Such were the early 1940s.
The owner and consignor of the two covers is Jerry Robinson, Batman artist and creator of the Joker. Mr. Robinson has been a creative force in American comics for eight decades. He is a talent that understood early on the impact comics could have on American culture, and understood that original comic art should be saved and treasured. Jerry Robinson assembled and preserved for seventy years one of the greatest collections of comic art, and this collection has never been offered to the public until now.
These two pieces are among the finest original covers from Jerry Robinson’s collection, and will be available for sale in ComicConnect.com’s November / December 2010 Event Auction with no buyer’s premiums.
ComicConnect.com will offer a Six- Month Interest-Free Time Payment Plan on both pieces. Interested parties should contact them for details at (212) 895-3999 (international 001-212-895-3999) or email support@comicconnect.com.
