| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 27 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 27 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0202467001
|
Owner Comments
This issue marks the first appearance of Hank Pym, the future Ant-Man. It is not really an Ant-Man issue per se, but details how he has invented two serums, one to shrink an object and a second that expands it back to normal size.
It is a very tough book to find in high grade with only two 9.4s with Universal labels topping the census. Our copy has been graded 9.4 and looks great, but CGC found that it was the subject of a Slight Professional restoration. It is easily the best restored copy in the census.
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 35 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 35 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0006777005
|
Owner Comments
While Hank Pym is first introduced in TTA #27, issue #35 is the start of the Ant-Man run in TTA. These books before the introduction of the Hulk In TTA #60 are our favorite part of the TTA run. This Western Penn pedigree 9.6 has long topped the census and is the single highest graded copy of the first appearance of Ant-Man in costume. At one time this book changed hands at $125,000. I was lucky to pick it up at far far less in one of those examples of how books can fluctuate in prices both ways. Needless to say, it is the star of our TTA collection and one of the most prized books we own.
This book was purchased in the CL auction of March 16, 2014. We sent the book to CGC and it was screened and pressed, but was not upgraded and is now in a different holder.
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 36 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 36 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2065295001
|
Owner Comments
One of the toughest books in the run in high grade, this is the best existing copy with WP and the Western Penn Pedigree. One of the highlights of our entire collection are the TTA #35 and #36 Western Penn copies, both of which are highest graded.
This book was purchased in a private transaction from Josh Nathanson at CL in April 2019.*
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 37 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 37 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2065097001
|
Owner Comments
Ant-Man battles the Unknown Protector in this third issue of Ant-Man in a costume in TTA. Our 9.6 is tied with two other 9.6s in the census trailing two 9.8s. We would love to have one of the 9.8s. but honestly I have never seen one on the market.
This book was purchased in a March 2014 CL auction.*
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 38 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 38 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1097119002
|
Owner Comments
Issue #38 features the origin and first appearance of Egghead, Elihas Starr. Our book is tied for second highest graded behind a single 9.8. This book was part of the Doug Schmell Collection auctioned off by Heritage in July 2012. We acquired the book in a June 2013 CL auction.
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 39 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 39 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2122465002
|
Owner Comments
Ant-Man tangles with the Scarlet Beatle in Issue #39. Our book is tied for second highest graded trailing a pair of 9.8s. We acquired it in a private transaction in 2020 from a friend and fellow collector.*
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 40 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 40 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1039371003
|
Owner Comments
Yet another tough book from Feb 1963. There are no 9.8s, but there are three 9.6s topping the census. Hopefully, we will find one someday.
We acquired our WP 9.4 from the November 2014 Pedigree Comics auction.
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 41 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 41 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1969324006
|
Owner Comments
I really love these old Ant-Man covers. In this issue, Ant-Man becomes a prisoner of the slave world, as he cowers in a corner dwarfed by a match. Our 9.6 is tied with three others fo highest graded as of 1/2020. We acquired the book in the May 16, 2019 Heritage Auction.
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 42 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 42 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0631976007
|
Owner Comments
In Issue #42 Ant-Man faces the Voice of Doom. Our WP 9.4 emanates from the Pacific Coast Collection and is tied for second highest graded trailing a pair of 9.6s in the census as of 1/2020. The book was also part of the famous Doug Schmell Collection and was acquired in July 2012 in that auction on Heritage.
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 43 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 43 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1032350004
|
Owner Comments
In Issue #43 Ant-Man grapples with the Mad Master of Time. We did own the Pacific Coast 9.6, but upgraded it to this 9.8 a couple of years ago. It is one of three highest graded and was acquired in the 11/15/2018 Heritage Auction.
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 44 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 44 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1199062003
|
Owner Comments
TTA #44 marks the first Wasp appearance and as such is probably the third most important book in this run after #27 and #35. This beauty comes from the Northland Pedigree and is one of two highest graded along with the Pacific Coast copy. It is probably the second most valuable book we own in this run after our TTA #35 9.6.
We acquired the book in the November 2014 Pedigree Comics auction. While it was not cheap at the time, this is one book that has benefitted greatly from the movies and has more than doubled in value since we acquired it.
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 45 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 45 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1199061009
|
Owner Comments
Issue #45 features the second appearance of Wasp and Egghead. Our copy is the second highest graded trailing three 9.8s. We acquired the book in the November 2014 Pedigree Comics auction.
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 46 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 46 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1295235006
|
Owner Comments
Any-Man and the Wasp face-off with Cyclops in Issue #46. We originally owned the Pacific Coast Pedigree copy of this book, which we had bought in the Doug Schmell auction in July 2012; however, it was only a 9.2. At that time our 9.6 was the only book above it in the census. Then the opportunity arose to buy this one, which we did in the 2/22/2018 Heritage auction. It is still hanging in there as single highest graded copy as of March 2024, but now there are two 9.4s.
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 47 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 47 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0764950004
|
Owner Comments
Issue #47 features the first appearance of Trago. When we bought this Western Penn pedigree 9.8 it was the single highest graded issue, but as of 1/2020 it is one of two 9.8s. We acquired the book in the November 2013 Pedigree Comics auction.
2021 Update: The census of some high grade comics seems to be expanding much faster than the US census, as there are now three 9.8s in the census.
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| Slot: |
Tales to Astonish 48 |
| Item: |
Tales to Astonish 48 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1039344003
|
Owner Comments
Issue #48 features the origin and first appearance of the Porcupine, Alexander Gentry, who will become a Marvel staple. This book has sat across the throne as the single highest graded copy for many years and was part of the Doug Schmell Collection, which sold on Heritage on July 26, 2012.
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