Profiles in History has officially announced Comic & Illustration Art: The Property of a Distinguished American Collector -- an auction featuring high-value pieces of original comic book artwork from some of the industry's most influential or otherwise esteemed creators. The auction will take place Thursday, Dec. 12 in Los Angeles.
Headlining the auction is the late Bernie Wrightson's wraparound cover for Marvel Comics' 1983 illustrated edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, dubbed "the finest pen and ink illustration of the 20th century." The cover is expected to sell for anywhere between $750,000 and $1 million.
Another key product is Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta's complete 16 pages of original artwork from the story "To Die Like a God," originally published by Marvel Comics in 1966's Thor #139. The Silver Age-era artwork consists of pencil and in on large comic art stop and is estimated to sell for $60,000 to $80,000. Kirby is considered one of the most influential comic book artists of all time, who frequently collaborated with inker Colletta.
Speaking of Kirby, also available is his and John Verporteen's original artwork from 1976's Eternals #2 -- the 17-page story titled, "The Celestials." This piece is expected to sell for anywhere from $40,000 to $60,000. Profiles in History also remind potential buyers that the Eternals are slated to become the newest Marvel superheroes to get the big screen treatment, with Marvel Studios' Eternals slated for release in one year's time.
Kirby isn't the only legendary Marvel artist to be featured at the auction, as artwork by Spider-Man and Doctor Strange co-creator Steve Ditko will also be available for purchase. Profiles in History is auctioning off several original pieces of Ditko's artwork from Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man series, including art from "multiple key issues." A total of six pages are to be sold as part of the Ditko collection, each of which are estimated to go for $20,000 to $60,000.
Another key Marvel auction is for John Byrne's 22 complete pages of original artwork from the story "The Annihilation Gambit," originally published in 1983's Fantastic Four #256. Byrne's work is tracking for a selling price of $40,000 to $60,000.
Profiles in History's comic book art auction goes well beyond Marvel, mind you. Another headlining product is the artwork from the complete 7-page story "I, Rocket," which comes from Al Williamson, Frank Frazetta and Roy Krenkel, and was originally published in 1953 within the pages of EC Comics' Weird Fantasy #20. "I, Rocket" is estimated to sell for $60,000 to $80,000.
Plenty of additional items will also be sold, including work by the likes of Robert Crumb, John Buscema, Brian Bolland and Michael WM. Kaluta. The lineup of original artwork also boasts complete stories from not only Marvel and EC, but also DC Comics, MAD Magazine and Warren Publishing, as well as pieces from such artists as Neal Adams, Gene Colan, Will Eisner, Jack Davis, Harvey Kurtzman, Gil Kane, Johnny Craig, Graham Ingels, Russ Heath, Joe Kubert, John Romita, Jim Steranko, Bernard Krigstein, David Lloyd, Mike Ploog, Mort Drucker, Jeff Jones, Jim Lee, Adam Hughes, Sanjulian, Mike Zeck, Ken Kelly and Barry Windsor Smith, among others.
Comic & Illustration Art: The Property of a Distinguished American Collector will be held by Profiles in history on Dec. 12.