Return to CE -- A lifetime of collecting comic related material

Ray, Fred [Golden Age Supeman and Batman] *

Hi, I wrote this some time ago in response to some questions from a dealer. I am not even sure if he received this e-mail, but I really don't want this information to be lost, so I am posting it here: "Ok, here goes about Fred Ray -- you asked for it. In about 1976, Collectors Book Store, in Hollywood, California began to contact retired comic book artists to see if they would do cover re-creations. I had been going to Collectors since 1966 and knew the owners and staff well. The owners were Malcolm Willtets, who basically ran the movie memorabilia section, and Leonard Brown, who ran the comics/pulps, etc. Their long-term employee was Howard Lowery, who began working there while in high school and continued until 1989 -- he left to start his own Animation auction and gallery. I knew Leonard very well, especiallyafter 1977 -- I used to spend hours at the store on Saturdays, spending the whole time talking to Leonard and Howard. Howard andI became good friends So I know quite a bit about this stuff. Ray was, along with Schomberg, Craig Flessel, C.C. Beck, Paul Reinman, and Dan Solnerowich, one of the first group of artists to turn out re-creations for Collectors. They were originally sold in small groups, 1 to 3 by each artist in three separate offerrings from about 1976 to 1978. They were always sold by telephone/mail auction, but there were no printed catalogues, as such - - just a B&W text sheet plus 3 X 5 or so color photographs. Beginning in 1978, Collectors Book Store began regular monthly auctions, with B&W, fully illustrated catalogues. I have all of these. They began with Issue 4, since there had already been three auctions limited solely to cover re-creations. Begining with No. 4, however, they offered items from all the areas with which they dealt. Collectors Book Store had been SUPREME from about 1966 until the early 70s, especially insofar as comic books were concerrned. WIth the advent of Overstreet (which allowed anyone to look up everything, and comic book conventions, which allowed amatures to become part-time dealers, they were no longer getting new things to sell. Leonard Brown conceived the auctions as a means of getting things like Action No. 1 on consignment, which would, hopefully, allow them to stay on top. To some degree it worked, but not as much as you would have expected. In 1975, they also decided to start dealing in original art. Howard Lowery was the one who contacted the old artists. He even asked me for color xeroxes (something new in 1977) of certaincovers so that the old guys could copy them. So, with No. 4, Collectors Showcase would offer art, comics, and movie memorabilia, with the cover recreations at the front of each catalogue (for a while). Ultimately, the auctions resulted and Leonard and Malcolm selling off their own extensive collections. The following Fred Rays were sold beginning with auction 4. I doubt if there were more than 2 or 3 sold before, but, again, I will still look for those. Auction No. 4 November 15, 1978 : No. F Cover of Superman No. 15, done in 1978, 19 1/2 X 16 inches $415 No. G Cover of Superman No. 18, donein 1978, 19 1/2 X 16 inches $360 ****** Auction No. 6 March 6, 1979: No. B Cover of Action Comics No. 46, done in 1978, 18 X 15 1/2 inches $266 ****** Auction No. 7 April 3, 1979: No. A Cover of Batman No. 9, done in 1978, 16 1/2 X 14 inches $330 ****** Auction No. 10 July 3, 1979 No. A Cover of Superman No. 17, done ???, 17 X 16 inches $399 (I bought and still have this one) ****** Auction No. 11 August 7, 1979 No. B Cover of Action Comics No. 40, done in 1978, 18 1/4 X 14 1/2 inches $250 ****** Auction No. 15 December 4, 1979 No. A Cover of Superman No. 9, done in 1979, 18 1/2 X 16 inches $275 ****** Auction No. 19 April 1, 1980 No. A Cover of Batman No.. 11, done in 1979, 16 X 15 1/2 inches $453 ******* Auction No. 22 July 1, 1980 No. A Cover of Superman No. 12, done in 1979, 17 1/2 X 15 1/2 inches ******* Auction No. 26 December 2, 1980 No. D Cover of World's Finest Comics No. 3, done in 1980, 18 1/2 X 16 inches $600 ******* Auction No. 39 January 5, 1982 No. B Cover of Superman No. 11, done in 1981, 17 1/2 X 13 1/2 inches $732 ****** Auction No. 43 May 4, 1982 No. A Cover of World's Finest Comics No. 4, done in 1981, 18 X 16 inches $313 ****** I think Ray did re-creations of Superman No. 14 and 16, and Action No. 44 as well, but they were probably in the earlier groups. So it is likely that there were onnly 14 or 15 cover recreations by him." It has been reported elsewhere that Ray did his recreations earlier in the 1970s at the request of Russ Cochran. This is incorrect.

There are 1 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.    

+

Re-Creation of Superman No. 17 Cover c. 1979

Art Details

Artist:	Fred Ray (All)
Media Type:	Mixed Media
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	685
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	7/2/2006

About the Owner

C E
Member Since:	April 2006

Re-Creation of Superman No. 17 Cover c. 1979
Artist: Fred Ray (All)
685 Views

There are 1 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.    

About the Owner C E Joined: April 2006 Last Login: August 2025 Country: UNITED STATES On CAF: C's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner, but, you must be logged in to use this feature. Click Here to Login Click Here to Register