"SUPERMEN OF AMERICA" RARE LETTER W/ENVELOPE & CIRCULAR OFFERING SUPERMEN PATCH TO MEMBER.
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Winning Bid:
$862.50 (Includes 15% Buyer's Premium)
Bids:
1
Bidding Ended:
Thursday, November 10, 2011 12:00:00 PM (20 Minute Clock Begins At Thursday, November 10, 2011 12:00:00 PM)
Time Left:
Ended
Auction:
Auction #204 - Part II
Item numbers 1447 through 3204 in auction 204
Value Code:
K/L - $1,000 to $5,000 Help Icon
Item Description
1939. 3-5/8x6.5" envelope with "Supermen Of America Action Comics" logo at upper left with Superman breaking chains with his chest has 480 Lexington Ave. New York, New York return address and typewritten address of recipient in Wawwatosa, Wisc. Envelope contains folded letter which opens to 5.5x8-3/8" written to "Dear Member" and includes text mentioning free prize offers "Open To Members Of This Great Organization". Second paragraph reads "We Are Sending You Herewith A Circular Telling You About The First Of These Great Offers. While This Will Be Published In Our Next Issue Of Action Comics, Which Will Be On Sale The End Of July, We Want To Give You Advance Notice Of This Wonderful Offer, So That You Can Get Started Immediately Toward Winning This Beautiful Four Color Felt Superman Emblem." Third paragraph includes text "We Hope You Will Help Us To Get As Many Additional Members As Possible And Thus Earn The Right To Get And Wear One Of These Beautiful Free Emblems, Which Will Make You The Envy Of Your Entire Neighborhood. Very Sincerely Yours, Supermen Of America". Folded pulp paper circular opens to 10.5x15" printed on front side in choice full color which includes 5.25" dia. image of patch along with text "This Is The Actual Size Of The Emblem" along with art of two different boys wearing the patch proudly. Art of boys appears to have been drawn by Vincent Sullivan, the first editor of Action Comics and likely the man who came up with the idea for this club and patch. Bottom portion of circular urges member to get three friends to join the Supermen of America club and send in their names, addresses and ages along with ten cents each and the coupon at the lower left. Lower right has art image of Perisphere and Trylon and has text "Superman At The New York World's Fair! You Can Read This Thrilling Episode Of Supermen In The New York World's Fair Comics! The One And Only Officially Licensed Comic Book Of The New York World's Fair! Soon On Sale Everywhere". The actual patch mentioned in this promotion is our next item #2681. This envelope, letter and circular/poster is the first we've seen in our 45 years and the circular differs from the comic book ad in that it was only sent to somebody who was already a member. Envelope has some dust soil and light creasing and has yellowed cellophane tape repairs on blank reverse. Front is VG. Letter has a few lt. handling creases and is very lightly aged in center 1/3. VF. Due to its fragile nature and large size being folded down and put into a small envelope and stored for many years, the circular has scattered light center seam splits and also has a few missing pieces in .25x1.25" area of Superman's neck image. Reverse side has several archival tape repairs. Despite problems, color is strong and image area is overall Good. An incredibly rare and nicely designed promotion with very limited distribution for a very short period.
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