LEE ELIAS’ INFAMOUS 1954 HORROR COVER TIES THE AUCTION RECORD FOR THE MOST VALUABLE HORROR COMIC ART EVER SOLD
By Intelligent Collector Staff
The shocking image of a man being scalped by a ghostly skeleton, long considered one of the most infamous horror comic covers ever published, has just made history of its own.
The original cover art for Black Cat Mystery No. 50, drawn by Lee Elias and published in 1954, sold for $840,000 at Heritage Auctions on June 23, tying the record for the most valuable piece of horror comic art ever sold at auction. The sale occurred during Heritage’s four-day Comics & Comic Art Signature® Auction, which realized more than $19.68 million.
The image, notorious among pre-Code horror fans and collectors for both its graphic content and bold composition, was part of the legendary Roger Hill Collection, which contributed more than 270 lots to the event. In total, Hill’s collection brought in over $4.3 million, setting multiple auction records.
“Lee Elias’ Black Cat Mystery No. 50 cover has long held a place in horror comic lore,” said Todd Hignite, Executive Vice President at Heritage. “To see it recognized with a record-setting price reflects both its historical significance and the intensity of today’s original art market.”
The $840,000 result ties the auction record previously held by Wally Wood’s 1952 cover for Shock SuspenStories No. 6, making Elias’ work one of the most valuable horror comic covers of all time.
Originally published by Harvey Comics, Black Cat Mystery No. 50 was released during the height of public scrutiny over comic book content. Its graphic imagery and unsettling tone helped fuel the eventual establishment of the Comics Code Authority. The issue, and its cover, have become enduring symbols of the pre-Code horror era, beloved by collectors for their cultural and visual impact.
The sale also answers a growing question in the world of original comic art: Where’s the best place to sell a historically important, one-of-a-kind piece? For this consignor, and the collector who won, the answer was clear.
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