A CGC-certified Blue Beetle #54 Tops Golden Age Auction
Posted on 2/16/2024
More than 200 Golden Age comics graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) were included in Heritage Auctions’ Golden Age Showcase Auction Featuring the Secret Sound Collection on February 8, 2024.
The Golden Age of Comic Books, spanning roughly from the late 1930s to the mid-1950s, represents a transformative era in the comic book industry, marked by the creation of iconic superheroes who would shape popular culture for decades to come. This period saw the emergence of characters such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain America, captivating readers with their fantastical adventures and moralistic narratives. The success of these superheroes laid the foundation for the comic book industry, establishing enduring archetypes and cementing the superhero genre as a cultural phenomenon.
Topping the sale was a Blue Beetle #54 graded CGC 7.5 Restored (lot 81053), which realized $15,600. This comic is coveted among collectors because it is specifically cited in the 1950s book “Seduction of the Innocent” by Dr. Fredric Wertham as an example of comic books being harmful to children. The topic led to Senate committee hearings on content and censorship, public comic book burnings and the creation of the Comics Code Authority.
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Two other Golden Age comics, a Batman #11 graded CGC 5.0 (lot 81034) and an All-Picture All-True Love Story #1 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 81021), set new sales records for their respective grades and issues by realizing $14,400 each.
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Other CGC-certified comics in this auction included:
- a Phantom Lady #23 graded CGC 5.5 (lot 81157), which realized $9,300
- a Famous Funnies #213 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 81099), which realized $8,100
- a Superman #9 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81195), which realized $7,200
- a Captain America Comics #59 graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81065), which realized $7,200
- a Batman #37 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81041), which realized $6,900
- an Action Comics #68 graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81006), which realized $6,600
- a Teen-Age Romances #12 graded CGC 3.5 (lot 81211), which realized $5,520
- a Superman #18 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81200), which realized $5,280
- a Batman #49 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81044), which realized $5,280
- a Batman #4 graded CGC 4.0 (lot 81032), which realized $5,040
Prices realized include a buyer’s premium.
About CGC
Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for many other types of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of home media.
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