Auctions: comic books in 'Romance'

Pictorial Romances (1950) 11 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4366163016

Cover by Matt Baker. Stories and art by Matt Baker, Joe Kubert, Hy Rosen, Robert Bernstein and Dana Dutch. Beautiful covers and art by legendary good-girl artist Matt Baker elevate St. John's 1950s romance comic above the norm. Department-store clerk Margery dates three men who could help her career, but is in trouble when they find out about each other, in a cautionary tale with art by Baker. In another Baker story, Anne marries handsome farmer Ned after moving to a small town, but soon tires of the life of a farmer's wife. Janet is determined to be a star, but that leaves boyfriend Jed feeling left out, in a story featuring early art by future comics legend Joe Kubert. Cover by Baker. My Rival and Her Weakness; The Worst Mistake a Wife Can Make; I Learned by Trial and Error; Crazy for Love; Playgirl at Work. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Popular Teen-Agers (1950 Star Publications) 8 CGC 1.8

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4371616001

L.B. Cole cover. Contains original and reprinted material as noted. In order of appearance: "Honey Bunn in No Holds Barred" art by Jay Disbrow; "Toni Gay in The Case of the Fortunate Fiddle" reprinted from Guns Against Gangsters Vol. 1 (1948) #2; "Eve Adams"; and "Midge Martin, Girl Reporter, Smuggle Trouble". "Love Match" text story. 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

Popular Teen-Agers (1958 Accepted Reprint) 6 CGC 4.5

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #0352419025

Cover by L. B. Cole. Stories and art by Norman Nodel and Manny Stallman. Archie-style teen comedy, reprinted from L.B. Cole's Star Publications. Toni and Butch try horseback riding to improve posture. Honey joins the school baseball team, and proves an even better player than Lefty. Eve gets mixed up with art thieves while vacationing in Italy. Also featuring a hilarious gorilla cover by L. B. Cole. The Showoff Showdown; White Walled Romance; Masquerade Mele; Villains Villa. 32 pages, Full Color.

Romantic Picture Novelettes (1946) 1 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white

From The Collection of Jon Berk

Label #1485503002

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Story by Allen Saunders. Art by Ken Ernst and Paul McCarthy. An early precursor to romance comics. The bulk of the issue is taken up with a collection of a Mary Worth strip from 1944. Mary's new tenant, Senora Lisa De Leon, keeps her face hidden under a veil while she undergoes a mysterious treatment from Dr. Karen Ward. But how will the new love of her life feel when her procedure is done? Also featuring pinup photos of movie stars John Hodiak and Alan Ladd, and a one-page Gertie O'Grady gag strip. Romantic John Hodiak; Mary Worth: Doctor Ward's Secret; Gertie O'Grady; Romantic Alan Ladd. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Secret Hearts (1949) 67 GD 2.0

Cover detached at one staple. Water damage.

Cover pencils by John Romita. Come Home, My Heart!; Travel agent Tina falls in love with a client but knows that he will probably fall in love with someone else on the extravagant international trip she is arranging for him. Believe Me, Beloved; Jane is sure that her boyfriend Brad will return to her even though none of her friends believe it. Stop-Over Love!; Glenn loves Mindy but steps aside when she falls in love with Jeremy. The Girl in His Life!, pencils by John Romita; Nita fears that her boyfriend Dan is still in love with a previous girlfriend. Inside back cover ad for Heart Throbs #68. Back cover ad for the DC line of romance comics. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Secret Hearts (1949) 88 0.3

Comic is complete other than being coverless.

Cover pencils by John Romita. A Shoe for Cinderella!, pencils by Jay Scott Pike; when rich Rory Maxwell pursues Mary Lou she can only remember the way he treated her when they were children, and she thinks he's laughing at her all over again. Escape from Loneliness, inks by Bernard Sachs. Lose Your Love, pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by Bernard Sachs. Exit Love--Enter Heartbreak, pencils by John Romita. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Teen Confessions (1959) 1 CGC 6.0 Restored

Restored: C1

Paper: Off white to white

Restoration includes: small piece re-attached to cover with glue.

Label #4641414002

Cover by Vince Colletta. Stories by unknown. Art by Vince Colletta, Charles Nicholas and Sal Trapani. In this issue: "Falsely Accused" with art by Vince Colletta; "30 Days of Happiness" with art by Colletta; "My Heart Whispered" with art by Charles Nicholas and Sal Trapani; "A Maturer Love" with art by Colletta; and 2-page text story "Age of Romance"! 32 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Variety Love Stories (1938-1949 Ace Magazines) Pulp Vol. 13 #1 GD/VG 3.0

Water damage.

Venus Books (1950-1956 Star Guidance, Inc) Digest 115 GD- 1.8

2" spine split from top. Cover oxidation. Water damage.

No. 115. 5.25" x 7.5", 130 pages, B&W. Cover price $0.35.

Young Love (1963-1977 DC) 108 VG/FN 5.0

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Last 50c cover priced issue. Stories by unknown. Art by Win Mortimer, John Romita, Sr., Jay Scott Pike, Mike Sekowsky, Liz Berube, Vince Colletta, Bernard Sachs and unknown. Surfer Karen is saved from drowning by Cal, the boy she loves, but she comes on too strong and nearly drives him away for good in "Twice in One Summer"! Plus: Lori offers five dollars to anyone who can get a picture of Paul, the guy she wants, in "A Picture to Kiss"! Also: Angie's boyfriend nearly leaves her because she belongs to a women's lib group, but her friends in the group help her get him back in "Cry Like a Real Girl!" And: Marc -- On the Man's Side! advice column! Also featuring reprints: Nina waits impatiently for Sandy, who has gone away and promised to send for her when he has built a home for them to live in in "I'll Send for You"; a chance meeting with a stranger turns into a brief romance for Elena, and makes it impossible for her to love anyone else after he is gone in the retitled story "An Hour of Love"; Karen remains in love with her childhood sweetheart even after he has moved to Chicago. When she gets an opportunity to go there, she believes that he no longer feels the same about her in "Don't Call It Love!"; Sabina has a crush on her older sister's boyfriend that grows into love after her sister breaks up with him in "Pick Up the Pieces"; a girl fantasizes about falling in love with every handsome man she sees, and eventually it happens for real in "My Secret Love!"; a secretary learns of a man's expected inheritance before he does and sets out to make him fall in love with her in the retitled story "Only Money"; composer Sandy is in love with Nina, the girl who sings his songs on television, but she's in love with Phil, their producer, in "Serenade to a Broken Heart!"; and when Tom breaks Tina's heart, she tries to pretend it doesn't matter by acting frivolously in the retitled story "Laugh It Up!" Softcover, 96 pages, full color. Cover price $0.50.