Real or Fake - Action #1 Recreation by Joe Shuster 0

[alxjhnsn]

Easily the most complicated piece I've seen by Joe if it's real.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/293429370200?ul_noapp=true&fbclid=IwAR1EpSXEEyUEQVo-vtGB6BmqeIiZu_ziKt712AIatWrSCAGVH3a8Z3oRtvo

 

Edited January 18, 2020 by alxjhnsn

[John E.]

I’m no expert but I would proceed skeptically. I just don’t know how something like this could be created without a record or a story or a legend behind it. In other words, true provenance. 

[comicdonna]

James Spence has authenticated sig on the letter of authenticity.  I would say it's the real deal.  

[aokartman]

Nice piece if you are strong collector of Superman.

Weak sauce for me, artistically, but it's a must have for 

a Shuster completist, I suppose.

David

Edit....Here is Shuster from HA archives from 1983 and a 1977 piece dedicated to Coddington.  Looks a bit tighter.

 

 

 

Edited January 19, 2020 by aokartman
pics added

[alxjhnsn]

2 hours ago, comicdonna said:

James Spence has authenticated sig on the letter of authenticity.  I would say it's the real deal.  

He authenticated the signature, but not the art.

[comicdonna]

32 minutes ago, alxjhnsn said:

He authenticated the signature, but not the art.

That is correct.  His sticker would have to go directly on the OA.  That is probably why the OA sig wasn't authenticated.  Although, the paper is to verify authenticity of the OA.  That in combination with the seller having a feedback of over 27,000 with 100% positive feedback leads me to believe it's the real deal.  

[vodou]

" was featured in the Hake's auction #220 March 17, 2017 and fetched $16,874.00 at that time. "

But now opening bid of $5k?

Sure thing. They can keep it

[The Voord]

Even if it's the real deal, it's not very good.

[alxjhnsn]

On this FB thread, Richard Halegua wrote:

Quote

I believe this is a Gary Coddington fan drawing that Shuster signed for him. Gary had lots of items like this he drew

So, authentic signature and amateur drawing.

There's more to the story here where ComicLink wrote about a Superman 1 reproduction:

Quote

Superman's famous co-creator Joe Shuster illustrated this rare oversized (18" X 23") recreation of his iconic Superman #1 cover from 1939. It's done in mixed media and rendered in color. The piece was drawn in the late 1970s/early 1980s period when Shuster did his best to overcome his deteriorating eyesight to work on a variety of specialty pieces. It's signed by Shuster in the lower right corner. Significantly, Shuster did not do many cover recreations in his life, and when he did they tended to be of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman. That makes this piece, recreating the first issue of Superman's solo comic book, perhaps unique. According to the consignor, this piece was originally sold by Gary Coddington, who at the time was serving as an agent of sale for Shuster on these pieces. It was purchased by well-known Superman collector Franco Toscanini, who later sold it to another collector who subsequently sold it to the current consignor, a long-time dealer.
 

 

[vodou]

7 minutes ago, alxjhnsn said:

On this FB thread, Richard Halegua wrote:

So, authentic signature and amateur drawing.

There's more to the story here where ComicLink wrote about a Superman 1 reproduction:

 

Occam's Razor: much easier to believe "good" sig, "bad" (Coddington) drawing than it is to believe that unlike any other 1960/70s Shuster ever seen by anyone - this one is both HUGE and DETAILED yet...still crummy?

[artdealer]

20 minutes ago, vodou said:

Occam's Razor: much easier to believe "good" sig, "bad" (Coddington) drawing than it is to believe that unlike any other 1960/70s Shuster ever seen by anyone - this one is both HUGE and DETAILED yet...still crummy?

Not late 70s. 
Shuster was still able to draw much better than this. 
IF Shuster actually drew this, it would be the mid 80s or so. 

[pemart1966]

Can anyone  post a photo of a verifiable Shuster Action 1 recreation for comparison?

Edited January 28, 2020 by pemart1966

[AnkurJ]

11 hours ago, comicdonna said:

James Spence has authenticated sig on the letter of authenticity.  I would say it's the real deal.  

Sadly JSA doesn’t have a completely clean track record. Google it and you’ll see. Caveat Emptor. 

 

[ESeffinga]

Unless someones art collection is SO complete they have nowhere else to put their money, and the only thing remaining to complete it is a wonky Schuster piece, why on earth buy this one?

They could feel so much better putting that money towards any amount of great looking, obviously real art that does not have to be accompanied by a page long written explanation of why it looks so bad.

But if they own everything else and this is what’s left... hey a collector gotta collect, yeah? 

[comicdonna]

Do I think it's authentic?  Yes.

Do I think it's a nice piece of art?  No

[vodou]

9 hours ago, artdealer said:

Not late 70s. 
Shuster was still able to draw much better than this. 
IF Shuster actually drew this, it would be the mid 80s or so. 

Yes, clarification: we've only ever seen those portraits though, heads and shoulders. Or somebody can post images of more complex compositions from that period?

[vodou]

8 hours ago, pemart1966 said:

Can anyone  post a photo of a verifiable Shuster Action 1 recreation for comaprison?

There aren't two; probably note even one

3 minutes ago, comicdonna said:

Do I think it's authentic?  Yes.

No.

3 minutes ago, comicdonna said:

Do I think it's a nice piece of art?  No

Awful. Just awful. Better if one of the amateur porno dudes had done it replacing all men with women in highly sexualized and/or degrading poses. At least it would then be mildly interesting.

 

46 minutes ago, ESeffinga said:

why on earth buy this one?

Stupid is as stupid does; mind-boggling that somebody got stuck bagholding nothing but a signature for $16k already.

The good news is: that 16k signature has been (insert appropriate oohs and aahs) authenticated

So now we're at $20k in value, easy...right?

 

[Timely]

Imagine if this was a recreation of Amazing Fantasy #15 by Steve Ditko, done with a shaky hand, how much would that be worth? Sure, the art wouldn't be that great, but I think it would go for at least $50k.

Assuming the Shuster art is real, shaky hand or not, it's got to be worth a lot! Question is... is it 100% unquestionably authentic?

Edited January 19, 2020 by Timely

[pemart1966]

1 hour ago, vodou said:

There aren't two; probably note even one

No.

Awful. Just awful. Better if one of the amateur porno dudes had done it replacing all men with women in highly sexualized and/or degrading poses. At least it would then be mildly interesting.

 

Stupid is as stupid does; mind-boggling that somebody got stuck bagholding nothing but a signature for $16k already.

The good news is: that 16k signature has been (insert appropriate oohs and aahs) authenticated

So now we're at $20k in value, easy...right?

 

 Clink description read:  "(Shuster did not do many cover recreations in his life, and when he did they tended to be of Action Comics #"

Is this then an incorrect statement?  Shuster never did a cover recreation of Action #1?

Edited January 19, 2020 by pemart1966

[vodou]

1 hour ago, pemart1966 said:

Clink description read:  "(Shuster did not do many cover recreations in his life, and when he did they tended to be of Action Comics #"

Is this then an incorrect statement?  Shuster never did a cover recreation of Action #1?

Not that I've ever seen. Somebody should share image/s if they own or used to owne on, but please no random grabs off tumblr