Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: jack kirby, jerry robinson, vince colletta

Highest Graded Copies of Marvel's Love Romances, up for Auction

One of Marvel's most succesful romance titles, Love Romances includes work form the likes of Jack Kirby, Matt Baker and Jerry Robinson.

Love Romances was part of the Marvel romance boom which saw the publisher launch an incredible 31 romance titles, 1948-1950.  Most of these disappeared quickly, but Love Romances was one of a handful of exceptions, lasting 101 issues 1949-1963.  The series numbering continued from the short-lived Ideal title, which began as a Classics Illustrated type of series but ended with a single romance number in issue #5.

The series has plenty of familiar names among its credits for that 15-year run.  According to GCD, Jack Kirby worked on 20 issues of the series.  Jay Scott Pike, perhaps best remembered as the creator of DC Comics character Dolphin, but who was also known as a romance artist for a number of publishers, also has plenty of work throughout.  Matt Baker and Alice Kirkpatrick have a few stories.  There's even some work from Golden Age DC Comics legend Jerry Robinson.  Vince Colletta, often considered controversial for his work as an inker, has some very pretty work as a penciler & inker on a number of these covers as well.  A noteworthy Marvel series that spans from the late Golden Age through the early Silver Age, there are several issues of Love Romances, including several highest-graded copies up for auction in the 2023 October 26 – 27 Romance Comics Featuring L. B. Cole Showcase Auction #40224 at Heritage Auctions.

#19 (Atlas, 1951) CGC FN 6.0 Off-white pages. The first copy we've ever offered. Overstreet 2023 FN 6.0 value = $48. CGC census 10/23: 1 in 6.0, none higher.

#29 (Atlas, 1953) CGC FN 6.0 Cream to off-white pages. Al Hartley cover. Jay Scott Pike, Jerry Robinson, and Alice Kirkpatrick art. Overstreet 2023 FN 6.0 value = $48. CGC census 10/23: 1 in 6.0, none higher.

#47 (Atlas, 1955) CGC FN/VF 7.0 Off-white pages. Vince Colletta cover and art. Jay Scott Pike art. Overstreet 2023 FN 6.0 value = $45; VF 8.0 value = $90. CGC census 10/23: 1 in 7.0, none higher.

#48 (Atlas, 1955) CGC VF 8.0 Off-white pages. Vince Colletta cover and art. Overstreet 2023 VF 8.0 value = $58. CGC census 10/23: 1 in 8.0, none higher.

#55 (Atlas, 1956) CGC VG+ 4.5 Off-white to white pages. Tom Sawyer cover and art. Matt Baker, Vince Colletta, and Jay Scott Pike art. The first copy that Heritage has ever auctioned. Overstreet 2023 VG 4.0 value = $18. CGC census 9/23: 1 in 4.5, none higher.

Love Romances #57 (Atlas, 1956) CGC VF 8.0 Off-white to white pages. Vince Colletta cover and art. Matt Baker, Jay Scott Pike, and Doug Wildey art. Overstreet 2023 VF 8.0 value = $112. CGC census 10/23: 1 in 8.0, none higher.

Love Romances #62 (Atlas, 1956) CGC VF 8.0 Off-white pages. Vince Colletta cover and art. Jay Scott Pike art. The first copy we've ever offered. Overstreet 2023 VF 8.0 value = $58. CGC census 9/23: 1 in 8.0, none higher.

Love Romances #69 (Atlas, 1957) CGC VF 8.0 Off-white to white pages. The top copy on CGC's current census for the issue. Vince Colletta cover and art. Jay Scott Pike art. Overstreet 2023 VF 8.0 value = $58. CGC census 9/23: 1 in 8.0, none higher.

Love Romances #91 (Atlas, 1961) CGC FN 6.0 White pages. Dick Giordano and Jack Kirby cover. Giordano and Vince Colletta art. The first copy of #91 that we have ever seen. Overstreet 2023 FN 6.0 value = $39. CGC census 9/23: 2 in 6.0, none higher.

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