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Title: BATMAN No. 79 and 82 * Lot of Two Comics
Publisher:DC [Indicia: National Comics Publications, Inc.]
Date Published: October-November, 1953 & March, 1954
Description: BATMAN #79: CGC certified: Poor (0.5). Brittle pages. Grader notes: "Missing interior part/page/wrap page(s) 6 does not affect story; spine split interior; heavy staining to cover; light spine splits to cover; moderate creasing to cover." Provenance: The DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION.
 
CGC Census: 118 graded copies (111 Universal, 1 Qualified, 6 Restored).
 
GPAnalysis: No reported sales in this grade. A 1.5 sold for $50 in 11/15.
 
Credits: Cover: Win Mortimer. Scripts: David Vern, Jack Schiff, and Bill Finger. Art: Dick Sprang (signed as Bob Kane), Charles Paris, Win Mortimer, Bob Kane (Batman and Robin only), Lew Sayre Schwartz, and Ray Burnley (inks). Overstreet: "Vicki Vale in 'The Bride of Batman.'"
 
BATMAN #82: CGC certified: Good- (1.8). Off-white to white pages. Grader notes: "Staple detached bottom of cover; staple detached top of front cover; tape interior spine; tape spine; heavy spine splits to cover; medium tear left center of front cover; moderate creasing to cover." Provenance: The DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION.
 
CGC Census: 92 graded copies (85 Universal, 1 Qualified, 6 Restored).
 
GPAnalysis: A 1.8 sold for $120 in 12/22.
 
Credits: Cover: Win Mortimer. Scripts: David Vern and Bill Finger. Art: Bob Kane, Stan Kaye (inks), Dick Sprang, and Charles Paris (inks).Bat-Bibliography: The DC Universe Collection copy of Batman #79 is illustrated in Taschen's 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking (page 243), with the following caption: "Batman's visible discomfort at the thought of marrying Vicki Vale was rooted in the belief that the demands of married life would interfere with his fight against crime. From Fredric Wertham's perspective, the Caped Crusader was really a closet homosexual who preferred to share a bedroom with his boy companion, Robin."
 
Bat-cyclopedia (#79): "In October-November 1953 Batman and Robin become embroiled in a complex predicament involving photographer VICKI VALE; get the goods on WALTER FRALEY and journey into the past for an encounter with CAPTAIN LIGHTFOOT; and battle LARS VEKING, "notorious modern-day pirate." — Michael L. Fleisher, The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Vol. 1: Batman. Macmillan: 1976, p. 124.
 
Bat-cyclopedia (#82): "In March 1954 Batman and Robin battle the GRAVIO family; match wits with LEW FARNUM; and thwart the sinister machinations of "DIMPLES" DREW." — Michael L. Fleisher, The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Vol. 1: Batman. Macmillan: 1976, p. 125.The DC UNIVERSE COLLECTION comprises over 40,000 comic books, including a copy of every single DC comic published for retail sale from 1934 to 2014. The collection was amassed by British music producer Ian Levine over the course of several decades, and it's been hailed as the single greatest collecting accomplishment in comic book history. This collection served as the basis for former DC Comics president Paul Levitz's monumental book 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking, published by Taschen in 2017. PBA is proud to present this epic collection in a series of themed sales over the next two years. To join the DC Universe Collection notifications list, contact pba@pbagalleries.com.
Enjoying PBA's Batman sale? A very small number of softcover and limited edition hardcover auction catalogues are available for purchase. The catalogues are fully illustrated, thoroughly researched, and make excellent reference works for Batman fans. To order a copy, or to inquire about consignment opportunities, contact Ivan Briggs, PBA's Director of Comics: ivan@pbagalleries.com.