Silver Age key Marvel Comics issues will get a spotlight in Pedigree Comics’ upcoming Grand Auction, scheduled to begin on Sunday night, April 18, 2010 at 8:00 PM. The auction will last for 10 days until the evening of Sunday, April 28, and will feature “a few hundred choice high grade and ultra high grade Silver and Bronze Age Marvels and DCs,” according to Schmell, President and CEO of Pedigree.

“The highlight of the auction is the second best known copy of Fantastic Four #1, a CGC-certified 9.4 with white pages. It is one of only four certified 9.4 copies in the world, trailing only one in 9.6, and represents only the second time a certified Near Mint example has been publicly offered for sale,” Schmell said.

“The last sale of a FF #1 in 9.4 was almost eight years ago, back in June 2002. Featuring the origin and first appearance of the Fantastic Four, the book represents the second most valuable Silver Age comic, trailing only Amazing Fantasy #15 (origin and first appearance of Spider-Man),” he said.

“It is also extremely rare to find in the higher grades, with only one in 9.6, 4 in 9.4, 2 in 9.2 and one in 9.0, easily making it one of the toughest  early Silver Age Marvel keys to find in VF/NM or better. Comparatively, there is one Amazing Fantasy #15 in 9.6, plus six in 9.4, two in 9.2 and five in 9.0). It is widely considered one of the most important comic books of all time as it ushered in what is now called the “Marvel Age of Comics” and spearheaded Marvels launch to greatness. Cover-dated November, 1961, it was on the newsstands in early August, 1961 and is rapidly approaching its 50th anniversary,” he said.

Schmell estimates the book will sell for over $250,000 and establish a new record for a Silver Age comic book.

Among the early highlights are Amazing Adventures #16 9.8, Amazing Spider-Man #19 9.8, Amazing Spider-Man #43 9.8, Avengers #4 9.4, Avengers #94 9.6, Fantastic Four #1 8.5, Fantastic Four #5 9.4, Fantastic Four #6 9.6, Fantastic Four #89 9.8, Daredevil #1 9.4 (Pacific Coast), Incredible Hulk #122 9.8, Marvel Feature #1 9.8, Tales of Suspense #57 9.4, X-Men #1 9.2, X-Men#2 9.6, X-Men #3 9.6 and X-Men #94 9.8.

“Many more new books will be listed in the upcoming weeks so please check Scoop each week and the Pedigree Comics website every day for all the latest news, announcements and updates about the auction. You can begin viewing the items in the Auction Preview beginning on Monday, February 22,” Schmell said.