Post by Administrator on Nov 5, 2005 21:09:17 GMT -5
Youthful pursuit
Comic collection stems from childhood interest
By CONNIE DORNFELD/Staff Reporter
The joy of collecting comic books dating back to his boyhood days was shared with fellow members of the Collectors' Clique Wednesday night by Harley Buchholz of Fond du Lac.
Buchholz told of going to a nearby grill where he read comic books while his parents shopped for groceries.
"I had 20 cents to spend, but had to read them all first to make my choices," Buchholz said. "And the barbershop always had a bunch of comic books for reading."
When Buchholz was 12, a boy from a neighboring farm came up the driveway pulling a coaster wagon full of comic books off to a paper drive when the war came along. His mother stacked them next to his bed.
Holding up a 1925 page of comics from the Milwaukee Journal, Buchholz said that the Sunday funnies were always the highlight of every week.
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According to the collector, there are four ages that the experts consider in comic book collections. The first, 1838 to 1899, was the Victorian Age.
"There were comic type books available as early as the 1830s," he said. "Puck contained not only political cartoons, but funny stuff. In the 1890s, New York newspapers featured the Yellow Kid. People were really taken with the funny sayings on his night shirt. Others, including the Katzenjammer Kids, Tooneyville, etc., followed."
From 1899 to 1938 was the Platinum Age, with most comics being the results of newspaper characters such as Tarzan.
The Golden Age was from 1938 to the mid-1950s.
"Batman spawned all kinds of unique characters - super hero guys and space guys like Buck Rogers," he said.
During the Silver Age, the 1960s, comic books took a bit of a turn, with super heroes having personal problems. Some had girlfriends and some fought among themselves.
"It was an era of social discussion rather than Superman being 'faster than a speeding bullet,'" he said.
During the Bronze Age, the price of comic books jumped from 10 to 12 to 15 cents.
"There was such a variety and such a wide price range. And a lot of different sizes," Buchholz said, holding up one comic book that he got from a box of cereal. "One that had Donald Duck on the cover sells today for about $300."
According to Buchholz, comic books are priced very much according to condition.
"A mint Superman No. 1 or Action Comics No. 1 have been sold for as much as $250,000. The same with the first issue of Batman. You can get up into five figures. But as soon as there is graying or folding or creasing, the price can be cut by as much as three-fourths," he said.
Buchholz keeps his comic books in acid-free mylar sleeves to protect the pulp paper from turning yellow.
"A lot of my collection is comic books that I had as a kid and took reasonably good care of. Through the years I have purchased some," he said "If I see a rare edition not vastly overpriced, I buy it."
Buchholz said he was most excited when, while attending a rummage sale in Fond du Lac many years ago, he found a dealer with a high stack of comic books he was selling for 15 cents each.
"I found No. 1, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 copies of Spiderman. I took all of his super heroes copies," he said.
Comic collection stems from childhood interest
By CONNIE DORNFELD/Staff Reporter
The joy of collecting comic books dating back to his boyhood days was shared with fellow members of the Collectors' Clique Wednesday night by Harley Buchholz of Fond du Lac.
Buchholz told of going to a nearby grill where he read comic books while his parents shopped for groceries.
"I had 20 cents to spend, but had to read them all first to make my choices," Buchholz said. "And the barbershop always had a bunch of comic books for reading."
When Buchholz was 12, a boy from a neighboring farm came up the driveway pulling a coaster wagon full of comic books off to a paper drive when the war came along. His mother stacked them next to his bed.
Holding up a 1925 page of comics from the Milwaukee Journal, Buchholz said that the Sunday funnies were always the highlight of every week.
ad header
According to the collector, there are four ages that the experts consider in comic book collections. The first, 1838 to 1899, was the Victorian Age.
"There were comic type books available as early as the 1830s," he said. "Puck contained not only political cartoons, but funny stuff. In the 1890s, New York newspapers featured the Yellow Kid. People were really taken with the funny sayings on his night shirt. Others, including the Katzenjammer Kids, Tooneyville, etc., followed."
From 1899 to 1938 was the Platinum Age, with most comics being the results of newspaper characters such as Tarzan.
The Golden Age was from 1938 to the mid-1950s.
"Batman spawned all kinds of unique characters - super hero guys and space guys like Buck Rogers," he said.
During the Silver Age, the 1960s, comic books took a bit of a turn, with super heroes having personal problems. Some had girlfriends and some fought among themselves.
"It was an era of social discussion rather than Superman being 'faster than a speeding bullet,'" he said.
During the Bronze Age, the price of comic books jumped from 10 to 12 to 15 cents.
"There was such a variety and such a wide price range. And a lot of different sizes," Buchholz said, holding up one comic book that he got from a box of cereal. "One that had Donald Duck on the cover sells today for about $300."
According to Buchholz, comic books are priced very much according to condition.
"A mint Superman No. 1 or Action Comics No. 1 have been sold for as much as $250,000. The same with the first issue of Batman. You can get up into five figures. But as soon as there is graying or folding or creasing, the price can be cut by as much as three-fourths," he said.
Buchholz keeps his comic books in acid-free mylar sleeves to protect the pulp paper from turning yellow.
"A lot of my collection is comic books that I had as a kid and took reasonably good care of. Through the years I have purchased some," he said "If I see a rare edition not vastly overpriced, I buy it."
Buchholz said he was most excited when, while attending a rummage sale in Fond du Lac many years ago, he found a dealer with a high stack of comic books he was selling for 15 cents each.
"I found No. 1, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 copies of Spiderman. I took all of his super heroes copies," he said.