Posted in: Comics | Tagged: avengers, captain america, Comics, marvel, vintage comics

First Silver Age Appearance Of Captain America In Avengers #4 CGC 9.8 Sells For Record $120,000

Published Sat, 14 Sep 2013 16:11:17 -0500

Last updated Sat, 14 Sep 2013 21:44:57 -0500

Just a few months shy of 50 years ago now, Marvel reintroduced its most popular Golden Age character to a new audience in issue #4 of its recently-launched team book, and kicked the Silver Age Marvel Universe into high gear. Cover-dated March 1964, Avengers #4 by Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and inked by George Roussos helped cement the Avengers as one of Marvel's strongest franchises, and confirmed the enduring popularity of the patriotic character who has since become one of comics' icons.

Pedigree Comics has just sold an Avengers #4 CGC 9.8 for a record $120,000. There are 3 copies of the book graded CGC 9.8 and none higher. The record eclipses the $91,500 sale of a CGC 9.6 copy which Bleeding Cool told you about in 2011.

"The book is characterized by unbelievable color strike, exact centering, tight and perfectly placed staples, razor sharp edges and corners, off-white to white pages and a remarkably white cover," notes Pedigree Comics president Doug Schmell. "The back cover is perfect and is unbelievably white. It is easily the nicest copy of this great issue I have ever seen and I have owned a few 9.6's, including the Pacific Coast one. What sets it apart from the other high grade copies I have seen is the bottom left front cover edge, which usually displays wear and color flecking due to the dark black background. This copy has absolutely no wear whatsoever on any portion of the front or back cover and looks to be unread. It is one of only three (3) copies to make it to 9.8 (out of 1,980 copies submitted to the CGC as of this writing) and is truly deserving of the Near Mint – Mint designation. I told the buyer he would be calling me as soon as he received it to rave about his new purchase and sure enough he did."

"The buyer is a Silver Age collector who focuses on investment quality, ultra high grade keys. He primarily is interested in Marvels but does like the early Silver Age DC #1 and first appearance issues as well. He saw the book listed in the Auction Preview of my then-current Grand Auction (August 25 through September 4) and asked if he could purchase it outright prior to the auction commencement. After two days' worth of negotiations, a price of $120,000 was agreed upon, on August 24."