Brother Keeps His Promise: Small Portion of Comic Collection Sells for $7.1 Million 

A portion of the comics in the Promise Collection, a grouping of high-grade Golden Age comic books bought by a teenager in the 1940s, sold at a June 7 Heritage auction for a total of $7.1 million.

The total was for just 181 comics from the 5,000-plus comic books that make up the Promise Collection. The comic book collection was owned by a young man who made his brother promise to keep the comics together while he was fighting in the war. He never returned, but the brother kept the collection together and added some of his own. All the comics will be sold by Heritage Auctions throughout this year and next.

“We’re just blown away,” said Heritage Auctions Vice-President Lon Allen moments after the session closed Friday. “Every single book was over the top — and deservedly so.”

Almost every book in this first sale shattered pre-auction expectations. Prices included: A mint-condition Detective Comics No. 140, $456,000; a Phantom Lady No. 17, considered one of the most iconic of the Golden Age, also brought $456,000; Captain America Comics No. 36, with Captain America yanking Hitler out of his convertible, sold for $204,000. Another Captain America Comics, No. 74 with Red Skull and Captain America, also sold for $204,000.

Photos:  Heritage Auctions

Detective Comics No. 140

 

Phantom Lady No. 17

 

Captain America No. 36

 

Captain America No. 74