auction
90,000 Rare Comics Discovered in Stockholm Basement By Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s Auctions
Presenting The Northern Collection
Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s is proud to announce the discovery of the ‘Northern Collection,’ an extraordinary archive of over 90,000 comic books unearthed in a Stockholm basement. Amassed over five decades by an eccentric collector and publisher, the collection is widely considered the most significant find of its kind outside the United States…
The assembly – which features iconic Silver Age keys including Amazing Fantasy #15 (Spider-Man), X-Men #1, Fantastic Four #1, and Incredible Hulk #1 – was brought to light when the original owner invited another collector to view his stock pile, and after a protracted valuation period, agreed to sell the collection in its entirety.
The new owner and the original collector – both of whom wish to remain anonymous, for fear the collection could be targeted for theft – then invited Bryson Johnson, co-owner of Comics Heaven in Stockholm, to view this lifelong stockpile. Many of the items remain in exceptional condition, having been untouched in decades.
The archive spans from the 1940s to the 1990s, offering a complete historical record of the evolution of the medium, alongside massive runs of Marvel and DC titles, including: Batman, Superman, Battlestar Galactica, Supergirl, Iron Man, Captain America, The Avengers, Wonder Woman, Star Wars and Swamp Thing. The collection also includes rare independent releases and historically significant titles from the Golden Age.
Due to its immense cultural and historical importance, the collection has been granted a CGC custom label, meaning many of the books will be graded and encapsulated with a unique “Northern Collection” label to preserve its provenance. The collection, alongside other notable comics, will now come to the global market via a series of auctions with Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s.
Iain Murphy, CEO of Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s, commented:
“When we were first invited to inspect the collection, we couldn’t believe the scale. This is the most comprehensive archive I have ever seen. The new owner described moving boxes of old VHS tapes only to find pristine back issues of the most famous Marvel characters in history sitting underneath.”
Bryson Johnson, Co-Owner of Comics Heaven, added:
“Discovering this collection was mind-blowing. The original owner was a true completist – his goal was to acquire every US comic book ever produced, he must have got close and he never sold a single one. We are looking at titles that haven’t been seen in decades, it is a cultural goldmine of huge significance.”
Here’s the auction link for the Northern Collection
###
About Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s
Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s unites two of the most respected names in the world of antiques, bringing together over 300 years of combined expertise in philately, numismatics, and historic artefacts. While maintaining its heritage in traditional fields, the firm has evolved to lead the market in contemporary collectables, including rare comic books and trading cards.
About Comics Heaven
Based in Stockholm, Comics Heaven is a premier comic book specialist and certified CGC Facilitator and primary sponsor for Comic-Con Stockholm. Led by experts KG Mobrandt and Bryson Johnson, Comics Heaven specialises in the authentication, curation, and sale of highly collectable comic books across Europe and beyond.
You must be logged in to post a comment.