THERE’S A STORY TO TELL ABOUT OUR ILLUSTRATION ART RESULTS!

DALLAS, TEXAS: Famous American Illustrators (or FAI) had less than ten percent of the total lots for Heritage’s $4 million Wizard World Texas November 20-23 popular culture Signature Auction 808, and yet, when the bidding was over, boasted $422,444 in total sales, and two of the top moneymakers for the sale. These two exquisite pieces - a Rockwell and an Elvgren - earned a combined total of over $48,000, putting them each in the top one-half percent of the auction.

Even beyond their sterling financial performance, both have charming tales backing them up. Ed Jaster, Director of Acquisitions for Heritage, adds, “It’s only fitting that it is called Illustration Art, because there’s always a story behind it.”

Here’s one of those stories, about one of our auction highlights:

In the 1940s, noted illustrators Norman Rockwell and Joseph Mugnaini were friends and contemporaries, and Rockwell often used members of the Mugnaini family as models for some of this most famous works, including covers for “The Saturday Evening Post.” Both Joseph and his daughter Diana Mugnaini were used in the painting “Traffic Control,” which was published as a “Post” cover in 1949.

Rockwell was obviously fond of Diana, and - even though she did not model for this particular piece - he gifted her with this charming pencil preliminary for a Hallmark holiday card entitled “A Christmas Prayer” and inscribed it, “My love and admiration to a very nice girl, Diana Mugnaini. Sincerely, Norman Rockwell.”

That sweetly inscribed, beautiful little sketch now has a new home, realizing a price of $27,025.00.
http://apps.heritagecomics.com/common/view_item.php?source=comics%20pabs&Sale_No=808&Lot_No=2341

Here’s another of those stories, about an entirely new-to-the-market, un-circulated Elvgren original, another of our auction highlights:

In 1948, a stunning young redhead entered the famous “Miss Calendar Girl of America” contest. Easily winning the regional trials, she quickly moved on to the national level, and was eventually selected from thousands of entries by an elite group of world-famous Brown & Bigelow artists, which included Gillette Elvgren, Rolf Armstrong, Zoe Mozert, and K.O. Munson.

She won a variety of prizes, including having her portrait painted by a world-famous artist (Elvgren), $250 in cash, and all-expense paid trip to the home of Brown & Bigelow, St. Paul, Minnesota, where Elvgren took dozens of photographs from which to paint her portrait. The final part of the prize package, however, was the most significant -- after Brown & Bigelow used the original Elvgren to produce one of their famed calendars, they sent the canvas to her - she became the proud owner of the original portrait painting.

Throughout the years, she kept it. No one saw it again until 2003, when our consignor, the contest-winner herself, selected Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers to offer the painting at public auction, the painting she had retained possession of since receiving it as part of her prize-winnings.

We’re very proud to announce that we anticipate the price realized for this beautiful Elvgren, $21,850.00, will be listed as one of the Top Ten auction prices achieved for this legendary artist, on www.AskART.com.
http://apps.heritagecomics.com/common/view_item.php?source=comics%20pabs&Sale_No=808&Lot_No=2147

Beyond even these two FAI stars, we have other wonderful art and fabulous results. Check out this record-setter:

Cleve F. Adams isn’t exactly a household name, but we’re willing to bet that many a mystery fan laid down some hard-earned cash for the paperback edition of his crime novel “What Price Murder” solely because of the sultry cover artwork by Sam Cherry. The back cover text of this pulpy paperback says it all: “She wore a vivid green dress, and had a body that would make any man forget his good intentions!” Cherry was an outstanding artist with a flair for beautiful women, and he created a woman who was definitely “Too hot to handle!” But don’t take our word for it. The original art for this paperback cover went for $9,200 - which we expect www.AskART.com will verify is an Auction Record, the best-ever auction result for an original piece of artwork by Sam Cherry.
http://apps.heritagecomics.com/common/view_item.php?source=comics%20pabs&Sale_No=808&Lot_No=2097

And even more records are being set, soon to come on www.AskART.com:

We have original calendar art by Henry “Hy” Hintermeister, Lot #2217, a lovely young woman, strumming her banjo while enjoying a summer garden, which should soon be reported in the Top Ten auction results ever achieved at $6,900.00. http://apps.heritagecomics.com/common/view_item.php?source=comics%20pabs&Sale_No=808&Lot_No=2217

And Lot # 2316, an unusual art-deco era work of original pin-up art by George Petty, realized $8,338.00, which we also anticipate for the Top Ten list of prices realized for a Petty. http://apps.heritagecomics.com/common/view_item.php?source=comics%20pabs&Sale_No=808&Lot_No=2316
(Please note: all prices reported above include a 15% Buyer’s Premium added to the hammer price of each lot.)
Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers’ next Signature Sale will take place February 7 and 8, 2004 in Heritage’s new Dallas Offices.
For more information about Heritage’s auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HeritageComics.com.
Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers specializes in vintage, original illustration art, vintage comic and animation art, classic toys and movie posters, as well as rare, high-grade comic books and comics-related collectibles.
Prospective consignors and sellers of top-end original illustration art, or comics material, toys, and original art are invited to call Ed Jaster at 214-252-4288 or Fred McSurley at 214-252-4293 to discuss their original illustration art, rare comics and comic art. Or visit http://www.HeritageComics.com and click on the “consign” tab. Or simply email Ed Jaster at EdJ@HeritageComics.com or Fred McSurley at FredM@HeritageComics.com Movie poster consignors, please call Grey Smith at 214-668-6928 or email GreySm@HeritageMoviePosters.com.