Three choice lots from upcoming Heritage auctions
Comic Art
For more than 20 years, illustrator Jack Rickard was a key contributor to MAD magazine, where he became best known for his cheeky movie parodies. In this original work for the cover of a 1976 edition of the popular humor title, Rickard teams Alfred E. Neuman, Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock as a tap-dancing trio to promote the Star Trek musical within the issue’s pages. Neuman’s pointy Vulcan ears and “Keep on Trekin’” uniform are an additional fun poke at the beloved sci-fi TV series.
Jack Rickard MAD #186 Star Trek Cover Original Art (EC, 1976)
Gouache on illustration board
16 x 16.75 inches
Auction: January 11-14
Sports
All hail the rookie! There is only one universally recognized Babe Ruth rookie card, and this is it. It’s a gorgeous specimen besides, providing one of the sharpest obverse images we’ve seen for this iconic trading card. Graded SGC EX+ 5.5, the card was spared a further climb up the SGC leaderboard by minimal corner wear and a slight westerly shift in centering. The offered example is tied with two others among a full census of only 16.
1916 M101-5 Blank Backs Babe Ruth Rookie #151 SGC EX+ 5.5
Estimate: $750,000+
Auction: January 26-27
Modern & Contemporary Art
Larry Saphire distinguished himself as an art scholar, poet, art dealer and accomplished storyteller. He was renowned for authoring the definitive catalogue raisonnés of Fernand Leger and Andre Masson’s prints, and his expertise blossomed while running the Blue Moon Gallery in New York. Saphire’s exceptional taste and discerning eye allowed him to identify and acquire hidden gems such as Leger’s Portrait de Rimbaud from 1948, one of more than 150 works on offer from the late dealer’s collection.
Fernand LegerPortrait de Rimbaud, 1948
Gouache on paper
13 x 10-1/8 inches (33.0 x 25.7 cm) (sheet)
Estimate: $8,000-$12,000
Auction: January 31