Several original Archie Dailies by Bob Montana are listed in the current Heritage Sunday Internet Comic Auction. The listings in original art also include a Pogo Daily by Walt Kelly. Also featured in the event are over 175 Golden Age books, 175 Silver Age books, and a solid selection of Bronze and Modern titles. The event is currently open for bidding and will begin to close on Sunday evening, September 14, 2008. A complete look at the listings can be found at Heritage. 

Bob Montana made it look so easy that many take his work on Archie for granted. The trick was for Montana to stay within the guidelines of the company’s expectations and still make the strip exciting. He accomplished this with skill and his long run on the strip is a testament to his ability to “stay within the lines”. The original idea for Archie came from one of the owners of MLJ Publications, John L. Goldwater. He felt that Mickey Rooney’s film persona might be adaptable to the world of comics and turned the idea over to Vic Bloom and Montana. Archie became so popular that MLJ even changed the name of the company. Archie first appeared in newspapers in 1947. Montana drew both the dailies and Sundays until 1975. While that is a long run, original art seldom comes into the market.

Heritage’s Weekly Auction is a great way for collectors and dealers to find hidden bargains. Among the listings Heritage will group individual issues by a theme or title so that the buyer can pick up a run with little trouble. They also list a good number of non-CGC graded titles that enables longtime collectors to buy books for reading or new collectors to make the choice to slab or not. If you love CGC graded books there are always a good number of them. Sometimes, like this week, the auction even has a publisher’s bound volume hidden inside the event. No matter what you are looking for, a Heritage Weekly auction is a good place to start your Monday.