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Heritage Auctions: Pulp, Paperback, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Illustration Art Showcase Auction

Auction Reports

Auction Name Pulp, Paperback, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Illustration Art Showcase Auction Total Sales (USD) 242,837.50
Auction Date May 27, 2026 - May 27, 2026 Low Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) 59,440.00
Sale Number #15264 High Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) 89,160.00
Total Lots 146
Sold Lots 145.0 Low Estimate of All Lots (USD) 59,600.00
% of Lots Sold 99.32% High Estimate of All Lots (USD) 89,400.00
Unsold Lots 1 Total Sales as a % of High Est. 271.63%

Top twenty-five by sale price

Top Sale Price Lots
Lot Number Author Name Book Title Year Published Estimate Actual Price
17071 Bob Larkin (b. 1949)

Bob Larkin (American, b. 1949) Tunnel Terror, Doc Savage, 1977 Oil on board 20 x 15 inches (50.8 x 38.1 cm) Signed and dated lower left: Bob Larkin / 77

1977 USD 2,400.00 - 3,600.00 USD 20,000.00
17128 Greg Hildebrandt; Tim Hildebrandt

Greg and Tim Hildebrandt (American, 20th Century) Mammoths of Atlantis, 1982 Acrylic on panel 25 x 33 inches (63.5 x 83.8 cm) Signed and dated lower right: Hildebrandt/ 1981

1982 Not Available USD 16,250.00
17165 Robert Peak (1927-1992)

Robert Peak (American, 1927-1992) Excalibur original poster concept, 1981 Mixed media on board 40 x 32 inches (101.6 x 81.3 cm) Signed lower right: B.Peak From the Robert Santo Peak Collection

1981 USD 1,200.00 - 1,800.00 USD 12,500.00
17052 Jack Gaughan (1930-1985)

Jack Gaughan (American, 1930-1985) The Maker of Universes paperback cover, 1965 Acrylic on board 20 x 15-7/8 inches (50.8 x 40.3 cm) Initialed center right: JG

1965 Not Available USD 7,500.00
17064 Kelly Freas (1922-2005)

Kelly Freas (American, 1922-2005) The Star-Crowned Kings paperback cover study, 1975 Mixed media with overlay on board 8 x 5-1/4 inches (20.3 x 13.3 cm) Signed lower right: Kelly Freas

1975 Not Available USD 7,500.00
17054 Ed Valigursky (1926-2009)

Ed Valigursky (American, 1926-2009) Empire of the Atom paperback cover, 1957 Gouache on board 22 x 15 inches (55.9 x 38.1 cm) Not signed

1957 Not Available USD 5,500.00
17090 George Barr (1937-2025)

George Barr (American, 1937-2025) A Sense of Wonder, World Science Fiction Convention program book cover, 1976 Mixed media on board 14 x 21 inches (35.6 x 53.3 cm) Signed and dated lower right: © G. Barr 1976 The Barry Lamka Collection

1976 Not Available USD 5,500.00
17061 Kelly Freas (1922-2005)

Kelly Freas (American, 1922-2005) Stargate, Analog Science Fiction digest magazine cover study, June 1974, Oil on board 19-1/4 x 15 inches (48.9 x 38.1 cm) (sight) Signed lower left: Kelly Freas

1974 Not Available USD 5,250.00
17113 James Gurney (b. 1958)

James Gurney (American, b. 1958) Alpine Princess, The Zanzibar Cat paperback cover, 1982 Oil on Masonite 24 x 16 inches (61.0 x 40.6 cm) Signed lower right: Gurney The Barry Lamka Collection

1982 Not Available USD 5,000.00
17050 Virgil Finlay (1914-1971)

Virgil Finlay (American, 1914-1971) The Complete Book of Space Travel book interior, 1956 Ink on board 8-3/4 x 6-1/4 inches (22.2 x 15.9 cm) (sight) Signed lower right: Virgil Finlay

1956 Not Available USD 4,750.00
17087 James Fox (20th Century)

James Fox (American, 20th Century) Mercenaries #2, 1979 Pencil on board 24-1/2 x 17-1/4 inches (62.2 x 43.8 cm) Signed and dated lower left: James Fox © 79 The Barry Lamka Collection

1979 Not Available USD 4,500.00
17039 Morton Kunstler (1931-2025)

Morton Kunstler (American, 1931-2025) Battle of Midway, Stag magazine cover, July 1961 Gouache on board 22-1/2 x 17-1/4 inches (57.1 x 43.8 cm) Signed lower right: M. Kunstler

1961 USD 1,600.00 - 2,400.00 USD 4,125.00
17065 Kelly Freas (1922-2005)

Kelly Freas (American, 1922-2005) The Star-Crowned Kings paperback study, 1975 Mixed media on board 7-1/2 x 5 inches (19.1 x 12.7 cm) Signed lower right: Kelly Freas

1975 Not Available USD 4,000.00
17059 Elliot Dold (1892-1957)

Elliot Dold (American, 1892-1957) Science Fiction pulp magazine interior Ink and gouache on board 9-1/2 x 8 inches (24.1 x 20.3 cm) (sight) Signed lower left: Dold.

N/A USD 240.00 - 360.00 USD 3,750.00
17070 Don Maitz (b. 1953)

Don Maitz (American, b. 1953) Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus paperback cover, 1972 Acrylic on board 22-1/4 x 19-1/2 inches (56.5 x 49.5 cm) Signed lower right: Don Maitz

1972 USD 1,200.00 - 1,800.00 USD 3,750.00
17164 American Artist (20th Century)

American Artist (20th Century) King Kong (diptych), 1942 Mixed media on boards 73 x 38-1/2 inches (185.4 x 97.8 cm) (overall) Initialed on the reverse of upper board: JT

1942 USD 400.00 - 600.00 USD 3,500.00
17003 Everett Raymond Kinstler (1926-2019)

Everett Raymond Kinstler (American, 1926-2019) Inspector Maigret & The Dead Girl paperback cover, 1955 Watercolor on board 27 x 21 inches (68.6 x 53.3 cm) Signed lower left: Everett Raymond Kinstler

1955 USD 640.00 - 960.00 USD 3,250.00
17033 American Artist (20th Century)

American Artist (20th Century) The Dead-Line, Western Novel Classic pulp magazine cover, 1945 Oil on canvas 20-1/2 x 14-3/4 inches (52.1 x 37.5 cm) Not signed

1945 USD 1,200.00 - 1,800.00 USD 3,000.00
17053 Jack Gaughan (1930-1985)

Jack Gaughan (American, 1930-1985) A Promising Planet paperback cover, 1970 Watercolor and ink on paper 14-1/2 x 11-1/2 inches (36.8 x 29.2 cm) (sheet) Initialed lower center: JG

1970 Not Available USD 3,000.00
17063 Kelly Freas (1922-2005)

Kelly Freas (American, 1922-2005) Lifeboat, Analog Science Fiction digest magazine cover study, February 1975 Acrylic on board 8-1/2 x 6 inches (21.6 x 15.2 cm) Signed lower left: Kelly Freas

1975 Not Available USD 3,000.00
17089 George Barr (1937-2025)

George Barr (American, 1937-2025) The Rainbow King, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction digest magazine cover, February 1981 Watercolor and gouache on board 14 x 10 inches (35.6 x 25.4 cm) Signed and dated lower center: G. Barr 1980 The Barry Lamka Collection

1980 Not Available USD 3,000.00
17096 Thomas Canty (20th Century)

Thomas Canty (American, 20th Century) Fields of Sleep book cover, 1980 Mixed media on board 15-1/2 x 24 inches (39.4 x 61.0 cm) Not signed

1980 USD 1,200.00 - 1,800.00 USD 3,000.00
17129 Greg Hildebrandt (1939-2024)

Greg Hildebrandt (American, 1939-2024) Whale in a Waistcoat, Davy and the Goblin interior, 1988 Acrylic on board 21 x 15-1/2 inches (53.3 x 39.4 cm) Signed lower right: Greg Hildebrandt

1988 USD 1,600.00 - 2,400.00 USD 3,000.00
17036 Frederick Blakeslee (1898-1973)

Frederick Blakeslee (American, 1898-1973) The Jailbird Flight, Battle Aces pulp magazine cover, September 1931 Oil on canvas 30-1/4 x 21-1/4 inches (76.8 x 54.0 cm) Initialed lower left: FMB

1931 USD 1,600.00 - 2,400.00 USD 2,875.00
17035 Frederick Blakeslee (1898-1973)

Frederick Blakeslee (American, 1898-1973) The Iron Squadron, Battle Aces pulp magazine cover, November 1932 Oil on canvas 30-1/4 x 21-1/4 inches (76.8 x 54.0 cm) Signed lower left: Frederick Blakeslee

1932 USD 1,600.00 - 2,400.00 USD 2,750.00
  • Freeman’s
    How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X
    June 30
    Freeman’s, June 30: [Queen Anne's War] Extraordinarily Large Manuscript Petition Signed by a Who's Who of Colonial New York Accomplished to Queen Anne. $8,000/12,000
    Freeman’s, June 30: [Mormonism] A Unique Manuscript Account of Joseph Smith's Final Words Offered to His Congregation, the Day Before his Violent Death, 1844. $8,000/12,000
    Freeman’s, June 30: [Baseball] [Mantle, Mickey] Mickey Mantle's First Cover: The Earliest Front-Page Newspaper Image of Mickey Mantle, "Something Good from Joplin". $8,000/12,000
    Freeman’s, June 30: [Baseball] A Striking Type 1 Press Photograph of Lou Gehrig's Hands. $8,000/12,000
    Freeman’s, June 30: [Declaration of Independence] One of the First Printed Announcements of American Independence, Subscriber Ebenezer Hazard's Copy, in the Exceedingly Rare Original Wrappers, 1776. $10,000/15,000
    Freeman’s
    How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X
    June 30
    Freeman’s, June 30: [American Revolution] Born in the USA: First Day of Printing in the United States, July 4, 1776! $15,000/25,000
    Freeman’s, June 30: [War of 1812] "We Have Met the Enemy and They are Ours": The Critical Promotion of a Naval Hero, Oliver Hazard Perry is Appointed Master Commandant in the United States Navy, 1812. $40,000/60,000
    Freeman’s, June 30: [Star-Spangled Banner] Eyewitness Account of the Shelling of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812, in a Manuscript Logbook from the HMS Trave, Present at the Battles of Baltimore and New Orleans, 1814-16. $60,000/80,000
    Freeman’s, June 30: [American Revolution] Thomas Jefferson at the Birth of a New Nation: An Important Letter Carried by a Jewish Patriot Communicating the Definitive Treaty of Paris, January 16, 1784. $100,000/200,000
    Freeman’s, June 30: [Colonial America] [Plymouth Colony] Plymouth Colony Seeks a Royal Charter: A Rare and Important Plymouth Colony Document, 1690/91. $6,000/9,000
  • Sotheby’s
    Selections from The Jay T. Snider Collection of Benjamin Franklin
    Live Sale 24 June
    Sotheby’s, June 24: (Benjamin Franklin). The founding—and funding—of the Pennsylvania Hospital. $150,000 to $200,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 24: Benjamin Franklin, "the Day of the Declaration of Independence is everywhere annually celebrated”. $80,000 to $120,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 24: Benjamin Franklin, “probably the most fundamental thing ever done in the field of electricity”. $75,000 to $125,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 24: Benjamin Franklin. One of Franklin's very earliest surviving letters. $40,000 to $60,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 24: Roger More and Benjamin Franklin. The only complete copy known of Poor Roger. $25,000 to $35,000.
    Sotheby’s, June 24: John Jerman. The American Almanack ... for 1731 — the only known copy in private hands. $25,000 to $35,000.