Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: golden age, More Fun Comics, spectre

A Glimpse of The Spectre in More Fun Comics #51, Up for Auction

Published Mon, 11 Jul 2022 12:18:09 -0500

Launched in 1935 as New Fun and then continued as More Fun, More Fun Comics was the legacy of DC Comics' first ongoing series. Originally a mix of humor and adventure features, the series contents and covers largely lived up to the notion of fun implied in the title in its earliest days. Serious adventure artwork began to take over the title's covers in 1938. The early issues of the title are full of work by legendary comic book creators like Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Bernard Baily, Bob Kane, Creig Flessel, and others. The debut of the Spectre in More Fun Comics #52 is an iconic moment in American comic book history, but it's not technically the character's first appearance. The character appears in a single panel advertisement at the end of the Buccaneer story in More Fun Comics #51 incorrectly colored. While this is not as important as a "true" first appearance (the first published image of Batman appeared in Action Comics #12, in a similar situation), it is undoubtedly historically noteworthy, and serious collectors seek out this tough-to-get issue on that basis. The first published appearance of an important DC Comics character, there's a More Fun Comics #51 (DC, 1940) CGC Apparent FN/VF 7.0 Extensive (P) Cream to off-white pages along with several other early issues of the series up for auction in the 2022 July 10-11 Sunday & Monday Comic Books Select Auction #122228 at Heritage Auctions.

More Fun Comics #51 first published Spectre (DC, 1940)

More Fun Comics #51 (DC, 1940) CGC Apparent FN/VF 7.0 Extensive (P) Cream to off-white pages. Spectre debut in panel. Gerber's Photo-Journal Guide to Comics rates this issue a "8" ("rare") in its Scarcity Index. CGC notes, "Restoration includes: color touch, pieces added, tear seals, cleaned, reinforced." Overstreet 2021 GD 2.0 value = $741; VG 4.0 value = $1,482; FN 6.0 value = $2,223.

More Fun Comics #48 (DC, 1939) CGC VG- 3.5 Cream to off-white pages. Creig Flessel adventure cover. CGC notes, "Very minor amount of glue on cover. (One piece of tape on interior cover.)" Overstreet 2021 VG 4.0 value = $388. CGC census 6/22: 2 in 3.5, 7 higher.

More Fun Comics #43 (DC, 1939) CGC FN/VF 7.0 Off-white to white pages. Creig Flessel cover. Artists include Bob Kane, Joe Shuster, and Bernard Baily (who also wrote one of the stories). Overstreet 2021 FN 6.0 value = $582; VF 8.0 value = $1,242. CGC census 6/22: 2 in 7.0, 2 higher.

More Fun Comics #37 (DC, 1938) CGC GD/VG 3.0 Cream to off-white pages. Creig Flessel cover. Joe Shuster, Bob Kane, and Bernard Baily art. Gerber's Photo-Journal Guide to Comics rates this issue a "7" ("scarce") in its Scarcity Index. Overstreet 2021 GD 2.0 value = $206; VG 4.0 value = $412. CGC census 6/22: 1 in 3.0, 6 higher.

More Fun Comics #36 (DC, 1938) CGC Apparent GD- 1.8 Slightly brittle pages. Creig Flessel cover. Bob Kane, Joe Shuster, and Bernard Baily art. Gerber's Photo-Journal Guide to Comics rates this issue a "7" ("scarce") in its Scarcity Index. CGC notes, "Restoration includes: Tape on cover and interior." Overstreet 2021 GD 2.0 value = $206.

More Fun Comics #26 (DC, 1937) CGC FN+ 6.5 Cream to off-white pages. Features Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's Dr. Occult. Creig Flessel art. Gerber's Photo-Journal Guide to Comics rates this issue a "7" ("scarce") in its Scarcity Index. One of five copies we've encountered to date. CGC notes, "From the collection of Ruben Blades." Overstreet 2021 FN 6.0 value = $756; VF 8.0 value = $1,613. CGC census 6/22: 1 in 6.5, 1 higher.