Sheena and the Elusive Jumbo Comics #31, Up for Public sale

In 1989, comedian ebook supplier, collector, and inventor of the Mylar Cosy Ernie Gerber printed his unique two-volume The Photograph-Journal Information To Comedian Books, which confirmed images of 21,000 comedian books from the Golden Age period, alongside along with his knowledgeable opinion as to their relative rarity as a longtime participant within the enterprise of comedian ebook accumulating. The eleven-point Gerber Shortage Index rated comics from widespread to nonexistent, with Gerber 11 that means identified to be printed however with no copies identified to exist, Gerber 10 designated as lower than 5 identified copies, and a Gerber 9 meant to point 6-10 identified copies.  Because of this, Gerber 9s and Gerber 10s have been notably coveted by severe collectors for many years.  Jumbo Comics #31 is one pretty well-known instance of a Gerber 9, and there is a Jumbo Comics #31 (Fiction Home, 1941) CGC VG- 3.5 Off-white to white pages up for public sale within the 2022 October 13 The Fiction Home Showcase Public sale #40199 at Heritage Auctions.

There’s been numerous dialogue within the 33 years because the Photograph-Journal Guides have been printed as to how properly the Gerber shortage numbers have held up, notably within the CGC Census period.  Outcomes differ, however we have typically discovered that there are considerably extra copies on the market than the Gerber numbers point out throughout the highest finish of the size.  Take the case of the next (non-exhaustive) listing of Gerber 9’s, a designation which was meant to point 6-10 identified copies, together with their present variety of entries on the CGC Census:

We’re 22 years into the CGC period, and it appears cheap to imagine {that a} important share of identified copies of many of the broadly-collected Gerber 9s (loosely outlined: Suspense Comics #3 and Catman Comics #13 are broadly collected, whereas Flying Fashions V61#3 isn’t) have been slabbed.  That stated, it should be famous that CGC Census numbers are usually not a wholly correct accounting of what number of copies of these comedian books have been slabbed.  Comics may be cracked out of the slab and resubmitted to CGC for grading once more for a wide range of causes, leading to inflated census numbers.  Nonetheless, it is protected to say that there are excess of 6-10 copies of Suspense Comics #3 identified to exist.  After all, Suspense Comics #3 is notorious for having been featured on the duvet of quantity 2 of the Photograph-Journal Information, leading to it coming to the broader consideration of collectors, a frenzy to unearth copies, and costs rising into the stratosphere primarily based on the comedian’s cowl artwork.

As for the remainder of this unscientific sampling, surprisingly sufficient it seems that All-American Comics #4 may certainly be a real Gerber 9 as a minimum, whereas the entire others right here except for Suspense Comics #3 are maybe extra within the 10-25 copy vary.  Nonetheless loopy uncommon, contemplating these comics have been firmly on the radar of great collectors for many years.  And it seems that Jumbo Comics #16 has faired higher as a Gerber 9 by way of low census numbers than many others with that designation.  A uncommon Fiction Home comedian ebook with a incredible Sheena cowl by Dan Zolnerowich  — and it is an Eldon copy — there is a Jumbo Comics #31 (Fiction Home, 1941) CGC VG- 3.5 Off-white to white pages up for public sale within the 2022 October 13 The Fiction Home Showcase Public sale #40199 at Heritage Auctions. Along with the gadgets listed on this submit, you may take a look at Fiction Home titles corresponding to Planet Comics, Jumbo Comics, Jungle Comics, Battle Comics, Rangers Comics, Wings Comics and far more. New to accumulating Fiction Home or wish to study extra?  Bleeding Cool is doing an ongoing deep dive into the historical past behind Fiction Home within the run-up to this public sale. In case you’ve by no means bid at Heritage Auctions earlier than, you may get additional data, you may take a look at their FAQ on the bidding course of and associated issues.

Jumbo Comics #31 (Fiction Home, 1941) CGC VG- 3.5 Off-white to white pages. Gerber’s Photograph-Journal Information to Comics charges this difficulty a “9” that means “very uncommon.” Sheena cowl. First look of Mars the God of Conflict. Overstreet 2022 VG 4.0 worth = $686. CGC census 10/22: 2 in 3.5, 6 greater.

CGC Grader Notes:
Backside Backbone Backbone Break up
Left Backside Again Cowl A number of Crease
Left Prime Again Cowl A number of Crease
Proper Prime Again Cowl Piece Out
Backbone Reasonable Chews
Prime Backbone Backbone Break up
Prime Staple Added Throughout Manufacturing

View the certification for CGC Certification ID 1157072002.

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