Ivan Ivanstein

Hi gang, It's almost time for PBA's latest funnybook fest, featuring over 400 lots of EC, MAD, Pre-Code Horror, and R. Crumb comic books, signed prints, original art, etc. As always, the catalogue is loaded with research, scholarly citations, gags and bon mots. A limited number of softcover and hardcover catalogues are available. The sale is on Thursday, April 25th at 11am PST, and bids can be placed online now! https://pbagalleries.com/auctions/catalog/id/667

The live auction starts tomorrow (Thursday, March 27th) at 11am PST. Over 160 lots of some of the rarest DC mags of all, including DETECTIVE COMICS 1-26, NEW FUN 1-6, NEW ADVENTURE #s 26 & 27 (two of the rarest Golden Age comics), SUPERGEAR, DOUBLE ACTION COMICS #2, the Superman BRADMAN COMMISSION book, the FLASH COMICS ashcan, CANCELLED COMIC CAVALCADE #s 1 & 2, and SCIENCE FICTION: THE VANGUARD OF FUTURE CIVILIZATION #3, featuring Siegel & Shuster's debut Superman concept, signed by Siegel & Shuster! A once-in-a-lifetime event. Here's a link: https://pbagalleries.com/auctions/catalog/id/680?page=1

Hi gang! As Director of Comics for PBA Galleries, I'm pleased to announce that the second DC Universe Collection sale is now online, featuring some of the rarest books from the Ian Levine Collection: all of the pre-hero DC comics, plus a selection of rarities, promo comics, and seldom-seen oddities. If you've been looking for Double Action Comics #2, Supergear, the Superman-Bradman comic, Siegel & Shuster's "Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization" #3 featuring "Reign of the Superman," New Adventure Comics #26, and other treasures, here's your chance. These are Magna Carta level funnybooks; this is the pulp-paper equivalent of Halley's Comet coming around once in a lifetime. This is pretty much your last chance to grab impossible-to-find books before they vanish into private collections, never to be seen, perhaps, for another generation. There's really never been an auction like this before! The print version of the auction catalogue runs over 160 pages, and features an original introduction by Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson, granddaughter of DC's originator Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, illustrated with rare photos from the family archives. Nicky also contributed an original essay about Siegel & Shuster's Slam Bradley. And we were able to get special permission from DC to include reprints of two classic Slam Bradley stories, shot directly from the copies of Detective Comics #s 1 & 2 in this sale. The catalogue is thoroughly researched and will be an invaluable reference for anyone interested in the early years of DC. By the way, PBA incurred considerable expense to have our photographer carefully shoot EVERY SINGLE PAGE of Detective Comics #s 1-26, and Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson is seeking a publisher to produce a licensed reprint of these rare mags! My goal as PBA's Director of Comics is not just to sell these books, but to document and preserve them for posterity. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I want to make the most of it — not just for the consignor and for PBA, but for all of fandom! https://pbagalleries.com/auctions/catalog/id/680

From today's Berkeleyside online: https://www.berkeleyside.org/2023/10/31/berkeley-auction-house-pba-galleries-dc-universe-collection-batman-comic

I've gotta apologize for the crummy image quality of these uploads! Not sure why they're all blurry.

Here's a peek inside of the huge auction catalogue for the Batman sale (over 200 pages!). My goal in creating this catalogue was to capture as much data, folklore, legend, and obscure facts about Batman as possible, culled from dozens of sources, so that Batman fans will have a handy compendium of info that might otherwise be difficult to obtain. When the DC Universe Collection has been sold off, the dozen or so catalogues will be a monument to Ian Levine's collecting passion. These are the sort of catalogues I always wished other auctioneers would produce. Instead, I'm doing it myself. The limited hardcover version of the catalogue is already sold out at $200 a pop, and the softcovers are disappearing fast. I'm glad that folks seem to enjoy these catalogues, as it's a huge effort to create them!

Not so. PBA's been around for almost 70 years as a fine and rare books auctioneer, and we're very experienced at selling great collections. Having worked for a decade at one of the world's largest international auction houses, I could tell you a lot about how the big houses strategize! Front-loading the best books in the first sale is a technique that serves the auctioneer moreso than the consignor — especially when the market is a bit soft. By front-loading the best stuff in the first sale, the auctioneer undercuts the consignor's ability to switch venues if the debut sale underperforms... all the good stuff is gone, so the consignor has no leverage to take the remaining property elsewhere. As PBA's Director of Comics, my foremost responsibility is to my consignor. It's not 2021 anymore, and we're in what's largely perceived as a buyer's market. I'd rather protect my consignor by saving Action 1, Superman 1 and other books for a year, two years, five years, if that's what it takes to get him the strongest results. Also, putting all the top Golden Age books in the first sale means diminishing results and decreasing interest for each subsequent sale. Instead, we're planning to build excitement and enthusiasm over a period of time. Meanwhile, we're serving the collector community by contributing to comics scholarship, rather than just staging another auction-house money grab. Our Batman sale print catalogue is over 200 pages, packed with information and esoteric Bat-lore culled from dozens of sources, some of them rather obscure. Even the most seasoned Batman fan who reads the catalogue front to back will learn something new. And our follow-up sale, DETECTIVE COMICS BEFORE BATMAN, will reprint every single page of every Siegel & Shuster "Slam Bradley" story from Tec 1-26. These stories have never been anthologized, so the catalogue will be a real boon to Golden Age fans. Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson, the granddaughter of Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, is contributing an introduction and notes to the catalogue. PBA's approach is definitely different from the "other guys"... and that's not a bad thing! Anyway, here's Ian Levine's intro to the print catalogue for the BATMAN sale. The story behind this collection, and how it came to auction, is rather interesting, and it will unfold piece by piece in subsequent catalogues. By the time the dust settles and the entire DC Universe Collection has been sold, our series of catalogues will comprise a comprehensive history not only of DC, but of one man's collecting mania.

Well, the first DC Universe Collection (formerly the Ian Levine DC Collection) sale is now online, showcasing BATMAN. The auction takes place on November 9th, and it's now open for bidding: https://pbagalleries.com/auctions/catalog/id/666

Ok, folks... Here it is, the debut DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION sale, featuring Detective Comics #s 27 through 700+ and Batman #s 1-600+, plus the rare FLASH COMICS #1 Ashcan. It's the greatest Batman auction ever! https://pbagalleries.com/auctions/catalog/id/666 The descriptions are well-researched, thorough, and entertaining. A limited number of fully-illustrated softcover catalogues are available at $50 each (a limited edition of 10 hardcover copies is pre-sold out at $200 each). Tell your friends!

PBA Galleries auctioneers offered 41 Spider-Man comics from Steve Ditko's personal collection last year and they did really well (the books were consigned to PBA by the Ditko Estate). Now PBA is offering the final 19 Amazing Spider-Man comics from Ditko's own collection, CGC-certified ("The Steve Ditko Collection") and with certificates of authenticity signed by Patrick Ditko, Steve's brother. Looks like there may be some bargains to be had! https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/646/lot/216855/AMAZING-SPIDER-MAN-No-1-Steve-Ditko-Collection?url=%2Fview-auctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F646%2F%3Fpage%3D3

Daredevil costume by Ben Cooper, c.1966.

Ming the Merciless tv screen snapshot, circa 1950s.

Ming the Merciless homemade costume, circa 1940

Kid visiting Marvel's NYC office, circa 1975.

PBA Galleries Auctioneers August 3rd comic book auction features over 300 lots, including hundreds of pre-Code ATLAS comics, a selection of other pre-Code comics including ECs (Crime SuspenStories 22, etc), and many Silver Age Marvels, including X-Men 1, Daredevil 1, Avengers 4, and 19 Amazing Spider-Man comics (including ASM 1) from the personal collection of STEVE DITKO, consigned by his family, with CGC certified provenance. Great stuff! Easy to register and bid: https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/646/ The catalogue is well-researched and lots of fun. Only six softcover catalogues are left; if you'd like to buy a catalogue, here's a link: https://www.pbagalleries.com/content/purchase-a-comics-catalogue-2/

Hi all, I'm Director of Comics for PBA Galleries Auctioneers in the San Francisco Bay Area, and as many of you may have heard, we're offering The DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION in a series of auctions starting in November. The collection comprises over 40,000 comics, including a copy of every single DC comic published for retail sale between 1934 and 2014. To get on the notifications list, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com. If you'd like to bid on some of these books but are concerned about funds, you can consign to a PBA comic sale that will precede the first DC Universe Collection sale, and apply your sale earnings towards your DC Universe Collection invoice. To inquire, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com. The top books in the DC Universe Collection will be graded by CGC. Those of you who are attending SDCC can pick up a PBA brochure for the DC Universe Collection at CGC's booth. Cheers, Ivan

Hi gang, It's time once again for another PBA Galleries auction! This time, the focus is on pre-Code horror and Undergrounds, but there's other stuff as well, including some Silver Age Marvels, prints and portfolios by Frazetta and others, and a drawing of Mickey Mouse signed by Walt Disney. You can browse the online listings here: https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/634/ Softcover catalogues are available for $30 each (there's also a limited hardcover edition, but it's already sold out at $200 each). Fun catalogue, great reference book.

After fetishizing this mag for decades, I finally got to handle a copy yesterday! Now it's off to CGC, but not before I scrutinized every page, every Canadian ad, and made notes for posterity (GCD doesn't list the contents of this rarity at all).

PBA's Marvel-DC Mashup sale is on January 19th. 250 lots, including X-Men 1-150 plus Giant-Size X-Men 1; Hulk 2-6, 101-182; Avengers 1-150, Daredevil 1, plus early Justice League, Wonder Woman and World's Finest comics. There's also a selection of rare International comics, including super hard-to-find Marvel-DC crossovers; a rare Yellow Kid chromolithograph from the 1890s; and a rare Superman poster from 1950 promoting racial tolerance. https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/627/

Only a few days left to bid on Steve Ditko's own Spidey comics! https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/621/

Hi folks — Patrick Ditko and I will be discussing his uncle, Steve Ditko, in a webinar next Tuesday (November 29th) at 12pm PST. Anyone who'd like to join in should email lea-nejma@pbagalleries.com in order to register for the event. If you have questions about Steve Ditko that you'd like Patrick to answer, you can leave them in the comments below, or submit them during the webinar. Should be fun and informative!

Thanks! I try to keep it lively and informative!

PBA Galleries Auctioneers brings you The SPIDEY SALE, featuring the STEVE DITKO COLLECTION: Ditko's own copies of Amazing Fantasy 15, Amazing Spider-Man 1-38, and ASM Annuals 1 & 2. Each book is CGC certified "FROM THE STEVE DITKO COLLECTION," and comes with a certificate of authenticity from the Ditko Estate, signed by the artist's brother, Patrick Ditko. The sale also includes ASM 1-300+ from other consignors, an original Spidey drawing by Daniel Clowes, original art by Ditko's studio-mate Eric Stanton, and a selection of vintage Spidey toys and merchandise. There's a softcover auction catalogue ($30) that's sure to become a valued reference book in years to come, and a limited edition hardcover (12 copies, already pre-sold out at $200 each). Here's a link — pass it on to all your pals! https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/621/

Smaller auction houses often deliver stronger results for specialized collections. PBA's series of pre-Code horror auctions has been delivering outstanding results, comparable to or exceeding those achieved by Heritage for the same books/grades. Personalized service can make a huge difference! PBA was saluted in the latest Overstreet guide, and is rapidly gaining ground.

I'm Director of Comics for PBA Galleries Auctioneers, and I'm very pleased to announce that PBA will offer Steve Ditko's personal copies of Amazing Fantasy #15, Amazing Spider-Man #s 1-38, and ASM Annuals #s 1&2 in our November 10th auction! The comics will be graded by CGC and certified from "The Steve Ditko Collection." Additionally, the sale will feature ASM #s 1-300+ from other consignors, plus other Spidey items. This will be the Spidey sale of the century — there will be loads of interest, so anyone with rare Spider-Man comics, art, toys, or ephemera to sell would do well to consign to this epic offering. To consign or request a catalogue link, please email ivan@pbagalleries.com. Cheers, Ivan