Heading:
Author:
Title: A MOON, A GIRL... ROMANCE No. 12
Place Published:
Publisher:EC [Indicia: I.C. Publishing Co., Inc.]
Date Published: March-April, 1950
Description:

CGC certified: VG- (3.5). Cover: Al Feldstein. Scripts: Al Feldstein, Gardner Fox, uncredited others. Art: Al Feldstein, Graham Ingels, Harry Harrison (with Wally Wood inks). CGC Census: Eight copies. GPAnalysis: No sales in three years. Most recent: a 9.0 sold for $4080 and a 7.0 sold for $1680, both in late 2018.

Feldstein's rather literal-minded cover gives us a moon, a girl, and — you guessed it — romance. This mag's title sounds like a cornball attempt to invoke a poetic mood, but it was just Bill Gaines's way of nickel 'n diming Uncle Sam:

"This curious title was chosen to save money. The Post Office required a deposit of two thousand dollars to obtain a second-class mailing permit for any new magazine. To counter this, a publisher would reword an old title and try to sneak it though on the original deposit. Thus 'Moon Girl and the Prince'... became 'Moon Girl'... which became 'Moon Girl Fights Crime'... which became 'A Moon, A Girl... Romance.' When Bill tried to change this last title into 'Weird Fantasy,' it was all too much for the Post Office, which stopped the shenanigans and made EC pay a new deposit." — Frank Jacobs, The MAD World of William M. Gaines. Lyle Stuart: 1972, p. 73.

A limited edition of 150 softcover and 15 hardcover catalogues is available. 400 lots, fully illustrated. Fun reference, great keepsake. Softcover $30, deluxe hardcover with dust jacket and limitation plate $200. Ten of the 15 hardcovers are pre-ordered and the rest will go quickly, so reserve yours now. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Consignments welcome for PBA's December 2021 Comic Book sale. Top prices for Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age, Silver Age, original art and ephemera. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.