Ableauctions -- ''World’s Most Valuable Comic Book'' to Be Auctioned Through iCollector.com at the Heritage ''Vintage Comic and Comic Art'' Auction
BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ableauctions.com (AMEX:AAC) announced today that it will host Heritage Auction Galleries’ Vintage Comic Books and Comic Art auction on August 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2007, at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, located at the world famous Camden Yards, and on eBay Live Auctions through its subsidiary iCollector.com.
Taking centre stage will be the Marvel Comics #1 Pay Copy (Timely, 1939) CGC VF/NM 9.0. This comic is the holder of the Guinness world record for the most valuable comic book. The comic is referred to as the pay copy or "payout copy" because it's the one used by the Lloyd Jacquet studio (aka Funnies Inc.), which produced the comic in its entirety for Timely, to record how much each contributor was paid, on which date and with which check number. For instance, the handwritten notation on the cover tells us that cover artist Frank R. Paul received $25 to draw this now-legendary cover. Also noted on the interior pages are payments to Bill Everett (for the Sub-Mariner story), Carl Burgos (for the Human Torch story), Ben Thompson (Ka-Zar), Paul Gustavson (the Angel), and others, all dating from late July 1939. Yes, this comic is the first newsstand appearance of all four of those classic characters, and it's also the first comic book by Timely (later known as Marvel).
Also highlighting this event will be Carl Barks’ "First National Bank of Cibola" oil painting original art (circa 1987). Based on his 1954 saga for Uncle Scrooge #7, "The Seven Cities of Cibola," Carl Barks painted this awe-inspiring, opulent scene of glittering, buried treasure. Before there was an archeologist-hero such as Indiana Jones to unearth the hidden treasures of the ancient world, it was up to those dauntless ducks, Uncle Scrooge, Donald Duck, and Huey, Dewey, and Louie to bring home the prizes of the half-forgotten past.
The auction house will also be showcasing Carl Barks’ "Spoiling the Concert" oil painting original art (1973). "Spoiling the Concert" was Carl Barks' 65th painting and the 11th "money bin." Unlike many Barks paintings, "Spoiling the Concert" has never been reproduced as a print or limited edition lithograph, nor as part of a calendar, or in any other format. It is emerging from a private collection for the first time in 30 years. Several focal points of this dazzling composition are arranged so as to lead the eye around the design in a circular movement, with the cash register serving as the main focal point. Poor Donald can hardly be expected to do much work while Uncle Scrooge sings at the top of his voice. In addition to the money bin details, including many individual coins, this painting is aglow with rich lighting effects.
Heritage Auction Galleries, established in 1976, is the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer with over 300,000 online bidder members at their web site, HA.com. They offer a wide range of Coins, Currency, Comics, Movie Posters, Antiques & Decorative Arts, Fine Art, Sports collectibles and Political Memorabilia. Their goal is to provide their customers with the largest selection of high-quality collectibles and fulfill their mission in providing the Internet’s most indispensable trading platform and source of information for serious collectors, investors and dealers.
About iCollector.com
iCollector.com is the pre-eminent supplier of live online auction technology and services to some of the world’s most prestigious galleries and industrial auction houses and operates one of the largest eBay Live Auction sales and support centers in the world. It is the only auction technology company to be endorsed by the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) and has partnered with eBay Live Auctions in streamlining the process of broadcasting auctions real-time on the Internet. iCollector’s technology enables auction houses to open their establishments to the world by allowing online bidders to participate in real-time on the auction floor.
Visit www.icollector.com or www.icollector.com/ourTechnology.aspx.
About Ableauctions.com
Ableauctions.com Inc. (AMEX:AAC) is a high-tech liquidator and online auction facilitator that operates the domains iCollector.com, NaaLive.com and UnlimitedCloseouts.com.
As an online auction facilitator, the Company, with the experience of over 3,000 auctions, has developed state-of-the-art technology to broadcast auctions over the Internet (www.ableauctions.com/technology) and currently provides the technology and related services to auction houses, enabling them to broadcast auctions over the Internet. The Company broadcasts business and industrial auctions over the Internet for auctioneers and members of the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) and art, antique and collectible auctions for numerous galleries and auction houses around the world through eBay Live Auctions.
As a liquidator, the Company, through Unlimited Closeouts, purchases overstocks, order cancellations and discontinued products from major manufacturers and importers, then sells the merchandise to major retail chains, other resellers or the public.
For a comprehensive Corporate Update and prior releases, visit www.ableauctions.com. For more information, contact Investor Relations at investorrelations@ableauctions.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, particularly as related to, among other things, the business plans of the Company, statements relating to goals, plans and projections regarding the Company’s financial position and the Company’s business strategy. The words or phrases "would be," "will allow," "intends to," "may result," "are expected to," "will continue," "anticipates," "expects," "estimate," "project," "indicate," "could," "potentially," "should," "believe," "considers" or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements." Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions or orders that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the performance of our staff, loss of management personnel, an inability to obtain financing as and when we need it, competition from other online auction businesses, our ability to implement or manage our expansion strategy, general economic conditions, our ability to license our software to other auction houses, our ability to acquire profitable companies and integrate them into our business successfully and other factors that are detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and on documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on such statements. The Company does not undertake, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement. E.&O.E.
