Hake’s Nov. 18-19, 2025 Premier Auction starring best-of-category pop culture collectibles is led by a CGC 9.2 NM- issue of Marvel’s 1963 X-Men #1 comic book

Also Featured: 1966 first printing of Grateful Dead ‘Skeleton and Roses’ Family Dog concert poster, 7/8in Cox and Roosevelt 1920 jugate button, rarest of all 1930s German Disney toys (Philip Samuels Collection)

YORK, Pa. – Hake’s November 18-19 Premier Auction is a collectors’ choice event, offering bidders the opportunity to acquire prized pieces from nearly 1,600 lots across many dozens of categories. The multi-consignor selection includes investment-grade pop culture memorabilia in exceptionally high grades. Many items have never been available for public sale until now, having resided in private collections for decades.

The anticipated top lot is a coveted Marvel X-Men #1 comic book published in September 1963 and CGC-graded a phenomenal 9.2 NM-. This issue contains the origin story and first appearance of the X-Men (Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Angel Beast and Marvel Girl), as well as Magneto. A key Silver Age Marvel comic, it is the product of a genius team-up, pairing a Stan Lee story with Jack Kirby’s inimitable cover and interior art. The colors are strong, and it would be difficult to improve upon this beautiful example, which is estimated at $100,000-$200,000. 

Comic book fans might also want to consider the CGC 6.5 Fine+ issue of Amazing Spider-Man #1, released in March 1963 and featuring the first appearance of both J Jonah Jameson and The Chameleon. A Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko (cover art) collaboration, this book retells the origin story of Spider-Man. Formerly in the John B Goodrich Collection, it is estimated at $20,000-$35,000.

A quintessential example of counterculture poster art from the Swinging Sixties is among the auction’s top lots. Printed in 1966, it is a CGC 9.8 NM/Mint “Skeleton and Roses” poster from the Family Dog series and announces a Grateful Dead show at San Francisco’s Avalon Ballroom. Designed by Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley, it is an original first printing with “The Bindweed Press San Francisco” shown immediately above the right side of the ticket strip. Northern California’s Deadheads famously snapped up posters of this type and carried them along on their cross-country travels as a statement of support for the nonconformist hippie lifestyle. This outstanding high-grade poster is as nice as any of its type ever offered for public sale, and it carries a pre-sale estimate of $75,000-$100,000.

Contemporary original art offerings include a Cowboy Bebop The Real Folk Blues: Part 2 production animation cel with an image of main character Spike Spiegel as he looked in the final episode of Sunrise studio’s popular 1998-1999 anime series. In the 12-field cel, Spiegel is shown pointing his finger, with the exclamation “Bang,” before collapsing. Estimate: $10,000-$20,000

Created by Kenner in 1984 for photography purposes, a Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1985) Luke Skywalker (Imperial Stormtrooper outfit) first shot/photo sample action figure is encapsulated, archivally cased and AFA-graded 75 EX+/NM Display. The figure depicts Skywalker with light brown hair and a prototype rubber Stormtrooper helmet. It is the only AFA-graded example, according to the current AFA Population Report, and comes with a Collectible Investment Brokerage (CIB) LOA and a photo print of the figure signed and numbered by Kenner photographer Kim Simmons. Estimate: $10,000-$20,000

The American political section includes several museum-level treasures, starting with a Cox and Roosevelt 1920 jugate button described by Hake’s Americana Director Scott Mussell as “the undisputed crown jewel of political campaign buttons.” Measuring 7/8 inches wide with backing paper identifying the manufacturer, Whitehead & Hoag Co., Newark, N.J., this button was possibly a salesman’s sample and is the finest of any of its type known to exist. The political-memorabilia equivalent to Action Comics #1 or a Honus Wagner T206 baseball card, its provenance includes the esteemed Roger Richert Collection. A potential record-setter whose condition would easily qualify as Near Mint, its estimate is set at $20,000-$35,000.

A historically-important 1979 document bears the handwritten signatures of Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes, Adjutant General Sylvester Del Corso, and 26 National Guardsmen beneath a formal apology for the May 4, 1970 shooting and killing of unarmed Kent State University students protesting the US invasion of Cambodia. Issuance of the signed statement was required (in addition to financial compensation) to settle Krause v Rhodes, a lawsuit brought by nine wounded students and the families of four students killed during the on-campus demonstration. Fewer than 15 copies of the signed document were issued, and none has ever appeared at auction. It comes directly from Tom Grace, a student who was shot in his left foot at the protest. It has an open auction estimate with a required starting bid of $10,000.

Hake’s is honored to present two supreme Disney toys with provenance that traces back to the collection of Philip Samuels, a pop culture visionary and museum founder who once owned a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. The first auction entry with Samuels provenance is acknowledged to be the rarest of all Mickey Mouse toys: a 1930s tin wind-up with die-cut eyes and a mouth that moves when the piece is activated. It was made in Germany, most likely by Saalheimer & Strauss, for export to the English market. Small text beside its wind-up key reads By Exclusive Arrangement With Ideal Films Ltd. All Rights Reserved Registered No. 508041. It is also marked Foreign on the back of Mickey’s shorts. This fantastic toy has the sort of primitive, early appearance collectors of vintage Disney toys love. Very few examples are known to exist and it is only the second to be offered by Hake’s in its 58-year history. Estimate: $20,000-$35,000

The second highlight from the Samuels collection is an iconic 1930 Tipp & Co. (Germany) tin wind-up Mickey and Minnie Mouse on Motorcycle with a built-in key. A “T Co” logo appears on the side of the gas tank, and the toy is enhanced by a lithographed motor “spoked” tires whose whitewalls are marked Dunlop Cord – 935 x 135. Complete, all original with a working mechanism, and graded VG overall, it is one of fewer than 10 original-condition examples of its type known to exist. Estimate: $20,000-$35,000

Moving into an exciting section featuring toys based on late-20th-century movies and TV shows, there’s a Kenner Star Wars (1978) Jawa Vinyl Cape 12 Back-A AFA 85+ NM+ action figure that isn’t likely to be overlooked. It is an initial “Vinyl Cape” variety, with no visible discoloration to the garment whatsoever. In an archival case, this superior specimen is estimated at $20,000-$35,000.

From Hasbro’s ever-popular line of Transformers, a 1984 Series 1 Optimus Prime (Autobot Commander) is AFA-graded 85 NM+ and window-boxed with intact tape seals and no color breaks. This toy is one of the most desirable of all Series 1 Transformers, and at the time of cataloging, only two examples were graded higher, per the current AFA Population Report. Estimate: $5,000-$10,000

A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1993) “Scratch” action figure, Series 6/54 Back, AFA 80 NM, represents perhaps the most coveted figure of the series. It is especially desirable on its original card and has been assigned a $5,000-$10,000 estimate.

Sonically, nothing says “Seattle” quite like Nirvana. A very rare and early Nirvana 7-inch vinyl single on the Sub Pop label includes Love Buzz on Side A and Big Cheese on Side B. Love Buzz is especially significant because it is the first piece of recorded music the band ever released. The single retains its super-clean pictorial sleeve, which is hand-numbered “973” (of 1000) in red felt-tip marker on verso. One of only 1,200 (including 200 red-slash promo copies) pressed for release in November 1988, it is graded VG++ and estimated at $5,000-$10,000.

Hake’s Nov. 18-19, 2025 online-only Premier Auction is now open for bidding. For a free printed catalog or additional information on any item in the sale, call +1 866-404-9800 (toll-free) or +1 717-434-1600; or email [email protected]. View the fully illustrated catalog online and sign up to bid at https://hakes.com/.