Kieth, Sam - Sandman, issue 3, page 16 (Mar 1989)

There are numerous reasons I love attending SDCC every year - time with friends, complete immersion into the world of comics and pop culture, picking up art from folks I've done deals with in advance of the show, great group dinners, etc.

But, one of my favorite reasons is the opportunity to come across an original art acquisition directly from a collector or an artist that would not have happened had I not been at the show. They are the kind of opportunities that come from a collector walking around a personal portfolio of art he/she just happens to be selling, or an artist who lays out a thereto unavailable stash in artist alley, or the piece that is in a friend's collection that, in casual conversation, you discover is of less interest to them than it is to you...and a deal can be struck while at the show.

The technology enablement of the hobby has had an enormous impact on the velocity and value of original comic art, most of which I think has been good. But, my favorite way to buy & sell art remains collector-to-collector. I've been fortunate to build a deep set of personal relationships & friendships in the hobby - and there is no better way to acquire original comic art than buying, selling and/or trading amongst these relationships.

Which brings me to this piece, which was in the collection of a friend for a long time. While shooting the breeze with him at SDCC 2018 about all things comic OA, we struck a deal for this stunning early Sandman page to move from his collection to mine. A little bit of a Woody Allen moment - a successful bit of collecting, most of which was attributable to just showing up and being present!

Philip - you are the man. Look forward to seeing you at SDCC 2019! This piece certainly contributed to a great 2018 for me.

Happy New Year everyone!