Golden Age comics and Star Wars rarities dominated the top 10 at Hake’s $2.9M pop culture auction

Big winners: Captain America Comics #1, $172,221; Superman #1, $84,370; record-setting Kenner Jawa figure and ThunderCats Lion-O; excellent results on original comic art + Batman surprises

YORK, Pa. – The most patriotic superhero of them all, Captain America, was in stellar, fist-flying form at Hake’s July 30-31 pop culture memorabilia auction. A rare copy of Timely’s Captain America Comics #1, the March 1941 comic book introducing the indomitable World War II character, his sidekick Bucky Barnes and their Nazi nemesis The Red Skull, swept the field to claim top-lot honors at $172,221. The book’s action-packed cover shows the Captain, clad in his trademark red-white-and-blue outfit, punching Hitler squarely in the face. The image of the hero and his unabashed wartime bravado buoyed spirits both at home and on the battlefield, leading to an upsurge in Captain America Comics’ circulation that ultimately peaked at a staggering one million copies per month. CGC-graded 5.5 Fine- and offered with an open estimate, the rare book presented by Hake’s was airborne all the way to $172,221. 

Both the #1 and #2 positions in the $2.9 million sale were claimed by Golden Age comics. Following Captain America in the winner’s circle was the character who started it all for comic-book superheroes, the one and only Man of Steel. Following his earth-stopping 1938 debut in Action Comics, Superman was given his own dedicated title. In summer of 1939, DC issued Superman #1. It contained the Superman origin story, as written and illustrated by co-creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and included stories that detailed Superman’s interplanetary origin and chronicled Clark Kent’s arrival at the Daily Star newspaper (precursor to the Daily Planet). One of a total of 77 Universal Grade copies that have been graded by CGC, Hake’s example, graded 0.5 Poor, sold within estimate for a strong $84,370.

Original comic book art, especially cover art, continues to trend upward. Bill Sienkiewicz’s original oil-painting cover art for Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu #6, published by Marvel Comics in December 1985, led its category in the July sale. Sized 14 5/8 inches by 20 inches, the moody, atmospheric depiction of Moon Knight trudging through a snowstorm, his red eyes ablaze, was bid to $35,046 against an estimate of $10,000-$20,000.

Sam Kieth’s original pen-and-ink art for the cover of Marvel Comics Presents Ghost Rider #99, published in March 1992, depicted a profusion of activity, with Ghost Rider (Danny Ketch) surrounded by D’Sprytes, the goblin-like minions of the Fear Lord D’Spayre. Measuring 11 1/8 inches by 17 1/8 inches, the artwork was assigned a $20,000-$35,000 estimate for its auction debut. It tested the waters quite impressively and, following a flurry of bids, peaked at $29,854.

Do Star Wars collectors ever get their fill of early figures and prototypes? Based on the pre-auction excitement and subsequent prices paid at Hake’s July sale, apparently not. If anything, seasoned collectors are even more committed as they face competition from a wave of new fans smitten with the lore of “a galaxy far, far away.”

A 1978 Kenner Star Wars action figure of Jawa, 12 Back-A and 2.25 inches tall with an original-issue vinyl cape, was on an unpunched blister card.  AFA-graded 90NM/Mint, it was described by Hake’s president Alex Winter as being the “finest example ever offered by Hake’s, with only three AFA-graded examples having a higher grade.” Its superior original condition was well spotted by collectors, who chased it to $44,262, a world auction record for a US-release Jawa figure.  

Not far behind Jawa was a 1982 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Boba Fett 48 Back-A card superimposed with a sample figure of Princess Leia Organa (Boussh Disguise). This intentional mash-up of card and figure was created purely to show how the figure would look on a blister card before an actual Princess Leia Organa card was available. Made in Taiwan, AFA-graded 75 EX+/NM, and the only known example of its type, the early and possibly unique fusion of card and figure was formerly in the Wayne Gillespie collection and came with a CIB LOA. It sold for $40,814 against an estimate of $20,000-$35,000.

Also noteworthy, a French Meccano 1978 Star Wars Luke Skywalker action figure, 3.75 inches tall on a 20 Back (French square cardback), was AFA-graded 80 Y-NM. “Not only was it the highest-graded but also the only graded example of this very rare figure,” Winter noted. It sold within estimate for $27,612.

A world auction record for any ThunderCats toy was set by an LJN/Rainbow Toys Europe 1987 ThunderWings Lion-O Deluxe action figure. Standing 7 inches tall and complete with its coveted ThunderWings vehicle/accessory, it was AFA-graded 80 NM, making it the single highest-graded example of its type. Collectors – quite possibly fans of the 1980s ThunderCats animated TV series – went after it with a vengeance. It ended its bidding run at $24,274, which Hake’s confirmed as being a world auction record for any ThunderCats toy. 

Batman can always be counted on for auction fireworks, and the July 30-31 sale was no exception. Standing a mere 3.24 inches tall, a Marx (Hong Kong) Mechanical Batman with Walking Action came with its removable key and was embossed Copyright National Periodical Publications Inc 1966. A great bonus was its colorful original box showing Batman in action on all four vertical panels and bat logos on the top and bottom flaps. Extremely scarce, especially with its copyright-marked box, the toy confidently strode past its $2,000-$5,000 estimate to reach $15,340.

From a decade later, an 8-inch Batman figure in its original window box was from Mego’s 1976 “World’s Greatest Super Heroes” line. AFA-graded Uncirculated U85 NM+ (New Logo), this toy had previously resided in the UK, in the Mark Warner collection. It was estimated at a modest $400-$700, but Batman fanatics had the final say, catapulting it to $12,980.

The political memorabilia selection also excelled, with an important 1896 William McKinley and Garret Hobart campaign button claiming victory over the category. The 1.25-inch pin-back, which shows the candidates riding a tandem bicycle toward the White House, was emblazoned with the slogan “Gold Didn’t Get There July 7th / But Watch Us Take It There Nov. 3rd.” This was a reference to William Jennings Bryan’s famous “Cross of Gold” speech delivered at the 1896 Democratic National Convention. Against an estimate of $5,000-$10,000, the ultra-desirable button sold for $17,588. Also worthy of note was an exceptional Charles Evan Hughes and Charles W Fairbanks jugate button decorated with a furled American flag and oval portraits of the candidates, all against a sunny lime-green background. This rare and attractive 1.25-inch button documents the Republican duo’s unsuccessful run against Woodrow Wilson and Thomas R Marshall in the 1916 Presidential election. It sold within estimate for $13,759.

South Carolina-born outfielder “Shoeless” Joe Jackson rounded the bases to lead the sports offerings in a 1909-13 M101-2 supplement to the March 23, 1911 edition of The Sporting News. Printed on heavy paper, the newspaper insert shows Jackson in a typical outfielder’s pose, with his eye appearing to be fixed on a baseball headed his way. PSA-graded 1 Poor, this item was fresh to the market and sold within estimate for $12,565.

To discuss consigning a collection or single item to a future Hake’s pop culture memorabilia auction, please call +1 866-404-9800 (toll-free) or +1 717-434-1600; or email [email protected]. All enquiries are kept strictly confidential. Visit Hake’s online at https://hakes.com/.