Auctions: comic books August 1953

Classics Illustrated 110 A Study in Scarlet (1953) 1 VG+ 4.5

A Study in Scarlet, 1st printing, Painted Cover. Sherlock Holmes stars in "A Study in Scarlet" and "The Adventure of the Speckled Band." Art by Seymour Moskowitz. Comic book adaptation of the classic detective story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that introduced Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson to the world. Issue also has an comic book adaptation of another Sherlock Holmes story, "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" and a text biography on Doyle and text stories on "Our American Heritage" and "Stories from the World of Sports." (HRN 111, with 8/53 date). Cover price $0.15.

Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955 Lev Gleason) 125 VG- 3.5

Oxidation, 1/2" cumulative spine split.

Cover by Charles Biro. Stories and art by Carl Wessler and Charles Biro. The title that launched the crime comics genre, Crime Does Not Pay was noted for its violent pre-Code content and lurid tales of underworld life. The story of Frank Nash, called "the most successful bank robber in U.S. history," until the Kansas City Massacre. A convict has a change of heart during a breakout and saves a prison guard. The Hair-Raising Career of Massacre Mad Frank Nash; The End of the Line; Strange Criminals; Crime Oddities; The Case of the X-Rayed Killer. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Haunt of Fear (1950 E.C. Comics 2nd Series) 20 FR 1.0

Near-complete spine split. Cover detached at one staple. Cover oxidation.

Cover art by Graham Ingels. Thump Fun!--The Witch's Cauldron!, script by Albert B. Feldstein, art by Graham Ingels; A murderer thinks he is like the character in Poe's "Tell-Tale Heart", imagining he hears a heartbeat in the walls, but after police examine the area they find his older brother's corpse. Terror Train--The Vault-Keeper's E.C. Classic, script and art by Albert B. Feldstein; Gloria was in a cab, running away from her husband Ralph...heading toward the train station and the train that would take her away from this man whom she thought was trying to poison her. Bloody Sure--Haunt of Fear, script by Albert B. Feldstein, art by Reed Crandall. Hyde and Go Shriek!--The Crypt of Terror, script by Albert B. Feldstein, art by Jack Davis. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.