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Author:
Title: CRIME SUSPENSTORIES No. 1 * First State Variant
Place Published:
Publisher:EC [Indicia: L.L. Publishing Co., Inc.]
Date Published: October-November, 1950
Description:

Fair/Good (1.5). Off-white pages with cream edges. Color touches to the "E" in the sidebar and to the woman's dress. Soft and pulpy, signs of moisture wear including a soiled spot to bottom spine of back cover, some rubs and short tears. If not for color touches, would grade 3.0 with potential to press-and-clean higher. Johnny Craig cover. Plots and scripts: Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein. Art: Johnny Craig, Wally Wood, Graham Ingels, Harvey Kurtzman. First State, with "Formerly Vault of Horror" in the indicia blacked out and "Vol. 1, No. 1" inserted above. GPAnalysis: A Purple Label 2.5 (trimmed), state unknown, sold for $186 in 2018.

First state variant. According to Grant Geissman, "The first printing reads 'Crime SuspenStories, Oct.-Nov. 1950, Vol. 1, No. 15 (Formerly Vault of Horror)' with this lettering blacked out and 'Vol. 1, No. 1.' inserted above. The second printing simply reads 'Vol. 1, No. 1.' The first version is much more rare."

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.