All-Image, All-True 1952 Giants, at Public sale

Large Comics Editions was actually not the one giant-sized square-bound rebound materials sequence that St. John Publications launched.  The writer will need to have had some success with such repackaging, as they went again to the method usually.  In 1952, St. John considerably confusingly used varied permutations on “All Image” and “All True” branding for quite a few rebound giant-size points.  These included All-Image All-True Love Story, All-True All-Image Police Circumstances, and All-Image Journey Journal. Every of those weighed in at 100 pages of fabric with a canopy worth of 25 cents.  Like Large Comics Editions, none of those are notably simple to get, however considered one of them is so powerful that even the Overstreet Value Information did not comprehend it existed for 30 years.  However All-Image All-True Love Story #2 does exist, and you’ve got an extremely uncommon probability to get an All-Image All-True Love Story #2 (St. John, 1952) Situation: GD- in addition to the opposite Baker-related 1952 St. John rebounds up for public sale within the 2022 August 11 The Matt Baker Showcase Public sale #40190 at Heritage Auctions.

As advised in a 1999 problem of Comedian Guide Market, All-Image All-True Love Story #2 got here to the eye of the accumulating group at massive when a replica appeared at an public sale held by Darkish Journey Comics someday shortly prior.  The public sale went “straight by way of the roof”, based on the profitable bidder Michael Browning, who then contacted Bob Overstreet and different classic specialists to doc the discover.  Within the 23 years since then, solely two copies have been graded by CGC.  The one at public sale right here is an ungraded uncooked copy.  There may be additionally an All-Image All-True Love Story #1 (St. John, 1952) CGC GD/VG 3.0 Off-white pages out there, with solely eight copies of that problem on the census.

Whereas revealed particulars on problem #2 are scant, based on Browning’s unique article on the matter, the difficulty comprises “all-Baker reprints from Wartime Romances.” As for the duvet paintings, that is one other case for which professional opinion has diverse. Many collectors assume it is a Baker cowl, whereas some disagree.  This one can also be somewhat trickier than most to establish stylistically as a result of it is basically a portrait shot, with out a number of the clues that full-body drawings can present.  And an terrible lot that we see right here — the hair, the small print of the flowers, and the marriage gown — is probably going all the way down to the inker.  That mentioned, whereas it is a completely different type of type than is discovered on one thing like the duvet of Large Comics Editions #15, for instance, this All-Image All-True Love Story #2 cowl has the slick, elegant, considerably minimalist inking type that appears similar to the one utilized by common Baker inker Ray Osrin on It Rhymes With Lust.  It could even have the earmarks of inside panel artwork that has been enlarged and reinked.

Absent definitive information of some kind, stylistic evaluation is extremely subjective and might solely take us to this point.  It additionally tends to evolve over time regardless.  So what does the publishing context of this problem inform us?  In line with St. John basic supervisor Richard E. Decker within the October 10, 1949 problem of Promoting Age, the corporate was set to launch the primary of its deliberate line of “image novels” round December 30 of that yr.  However it appears unlikely that It Rhymes With Lust was launched wherever near that date.  Both The Case of the Winking Buddha got here first at the moment, or the schedule for It Rhymes With Lust slipped.

Given what we are able to deduce about Baker’s workload whereas at St. John, It Rhymes With Lust understandably disrupted his common comics task ranges for a big time frame.  This disruption seems to have taken place from late 1949 by way of no less than the primary six months of 1950.  However by the point that was accomplished and scheduling received again to regular as 1951 approached, Archer St. John and editor Marion McDermott unquestionably understood that Baker was their star.  Baker’s cowl and inside work turned very regular.  By 1951 and past, St. John comedian books that contained Baker inside paintings however didn’t even have Baker covers turned uncommon.  It occurred, however not usually.  As a result of what is the level of getting your star work on the inside story however not the duvet?  Taking the notion that All-Image All-True Love Story #2 contained a big quantity of Baker materials at face worth, there would appear to be a excessive chance that St. John would have wished a Baker cowl on this problem. In fact, different elements can at all times come into play.  Schedule crunches occur, and different unknown points can happen, however the context suggests an inexpensive chance of Baker work beneath Ray Osrin inks or comparable.

All-True All-Image Police Circumstances #2 is the opposite stand-out amongst these 1952 St. John giants.  Whereas this one appears to have some simple Bakerish components, there’s clearly one thing else happening right here too.  Additionally a case of reused/reinked inside artwork?  It is inconceivable to say for positive.  This one does look like gaining traction amongst Baker collectors, nonetheless, and there are solely 4 copies on the CGC census.

As with the sooner Large Comics Editions, these 1952 St. John giants are powerful to get and fascinating, and there is an All-Image All-True Love Story #2 (St. John, 1952) Situation: GD- in addition to the opposite Baker-related 1952 St. John rebounds up for public sale within the 2022 August 11 The Matt Baker Showcase Public sale #40190 at Heritage Auctions. New to accumulating Matt Baker or wish to be taught extra?  Bleeding Cool is doing an ongoing deep dive into the historical past behind Matt Baker’s comedian ebook paintings within the run-up to this public sale. When you’ve by no means bid at Heritage Auctions earlier than, you will get additional data, you may try their FAQ on the bidding course of and associated issues.

All-Image All-True Love Story #2 (St. John, 1952) Situation: GD-. Maybe the rarest of all Matt Baker comics — we’ve solely seen one copy previous to this, and that was means again in 2006! The truth is, this ebook is so scarce that the Overstreet Value Information was revealed for thirty years earlier than they had been even conscious that it existed and added its values to the Information! Baker cowl and artwork. Accommodates 100 pages. There’s a 2″ piece lacking from the underside of the backbone. Overstreet 2022 GD 2.0 worth = $77.

All-True All-Image Police Circumstances #2 (St. John, 1952) CGC GD/VG 3.0 Cream to off-white pages. The primary copy that Heritage has ever seen of problem #2. Accommodates 100 pages consisting of three remaindered St. John romance comics. Matt Baker cowl and artwork. CGC notes, “Cowl re-attached with tape.” Overstreet 2022 GD 2.0 worth = $45; VG 4.0 worth = $90. CGC census 8/22: 2 in 3.0, 2 greater.

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