Census-Topping Batman Comics Highlight Williamsport Collection
The Williamsport Collection was chosen by the authors of the forthcoming Guide to Comic Book Pedigrees (including Mark Haspel and West Stephan of CGC) as one of the top 45 Golden Age collections ever assembled. The pristine 1950s Batman issues from this collection are one of the highlights of Heritage’s May 22–23 Dallas comic auction.
Many of the Williamsport books, including the sought-after Batman #100, are alone at the top spot on CGC’s Census Report for a given issue. Issue #s 80, 83, 87, and 99, all certified 9.2 by CGC, are each the only copy graded above 8.0 to date.
The abovementioned auction and future Heritage Sunday Internet Comics Auctions will also feature the Williamsport runs of Captain Marvel Adventures, Joe Palooka, and other 1950s titles.
The collection was assembled, starting in the early 1940s, by an anonymous collector in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Jack Juka, a retired photojournalist and author, first saw parts of the collection at a comic show in Scranton in 2004, and the immaculate quality of the 1950s Batman comics was one reason he made a deal to acquire the books.
Having two children in college has prompted Mr. Juka to part with a substantial portion of the Williamsport collection, to subsidize his children’s studies.
This is a guest article. The thoughts and opinions in this piece are those of their author and are not necessarily the thoughts of the Certified Collectibles Group.
