Rare Collection of Works by Comic Book Legend Stan Lee at Julien’s Auctions
Los Angeles—Julien’s Auctions, the world-record breaking auction house, has announced that a rare collection of comic book legend and pioneer Stan Lee is part of their highly anticipated event Icons & Idols: Hollywood taking place on November 16 and 17, 2018 at The Standard Oil Building in Beverly Hills and live online at www.juliensauctions.com.
The collection of nearly 20 items includes important artifacts from the universe of Stan Lee, the writer, editor and publisher behind some of the most iconic Marvel Comics characters, Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Black Panther, and Fantastic Four among others. Consigned months ago by an anonymous collector, highlights heading to the auction block feature numerous original comic books signed and written by Stan Lee including a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel Comics Group, August 1962) featuring the first appearance of Marvel’s most famous character, Spider-Man and Spider-Man’s origin (estimate: $30,000-50,000); a custom bound one-of-a-kind hardcover book that includes the first 10 issues of The Amazing Spider-Man, Strange Tales Annual #2, and Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel Comics Group, 1962-1964) that is believed to have been previously owned by Michael H. Price, a writer and friend of Stan Lee (estimate: $20,000-$30,000); a Stan Lee written and signed copy of The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Marvel Comics Group, March 1963) that features the retelling of Spider-Man’s origin (originally published in Amazing Fantasy #15) and also featured the first appearance of J. Jonah Jameson and the Chameleon as well as the first cross-over with the Fantastic Four (estimate: $2,000-$4,000) and a Lee signed copy of The Amazing Spider-Man #42 that features the first full appearance of Mary Jane Watson (estimate: $800-$1,200); a signed copy of Rise of The Black Panther Variant Edition #1 (Marvel Comics Group, March 2018) signed with black marker on the top cover by Stan Lee written by Ta-Nehisi Coates (estimate: $2,000-$3,000); a Stan Lee signed copy of Star Wars #97 (Marvel Comics Group, July 1985) story by Jo Duffy and artwork by Cynthia Martin (estimate: $800-$1,200) as well as a custom fiberglass life size mannequin of Spider Man designed to hang from the ceiling (estimate: $1,000-$2,000), sketches and more.
“We were saddened to hear of Mr. Lee’s passing this morning as we opened our pre-sale Exhibition,” said Darren Julien, President/Chief Executive Officer of Julien’s Auctions. “At Julien’s we have always been in awe of Stan Lee’s contributions to comic book art and feel fortunate to have this Collection as part of our November 17th Icons & Idols: Hollywood event on view this week at our Beverly Hills gallery. Fans of Mr. Lee are most certainly welcome to visit this free event. ”
Lee, whose legendary career in comic books began in 1939 and spawned Marvel Comics’ most classic and enduring superheroes, died today at the age of 95. The Stan Lee collection was previously announced as part of a spectacular two day auction featuring some of Hollywood’s most iconic pieces including a selection of never-before-seen, personal property of one of Hollywood’s greatest screen legends, Marilyn Monroe, most notably her 1956 Black Raven Thunderbird, Roy Rogers’ “Nelly Belle” Willys-Overland 1964 jeep, a rare photography collection of silent film star Harold Lloyd, handwritten letters and ephemera connected to HRH Princess Diana and costumes and wardrobe from Batman & Robin (Warner Bros., 1997), Forrest Gump (Paramount, 1994), The Big Lebowski (Polygram/Working Title, 1998) and more.
