By Marc Bernardin, Source: Blastr.com
Can you imagine being a plant worker whose great-uncle knew you like comics as a kid and left you a couple of boxes of ’em when he died—and then discovering that those boxes held a one-of-a-kind collection worth millions? Welcome to Michael Rorrer’s life.
Rorrer’s great-uncle was a Golden Age fan who, when he passed away, left 345 comics to his nephews. One day, while at work, Rorrer mentioned that one of his favorite comics was Captain America #2, in which Cap decks Hitler. A buddy replied that if he had Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, that’d really be something. And, lo and behold, Rorrer did … along with 44 of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide’s 100 most valuable Golden Age comics.
Rorrer’s collection is going up for auction this week, and—given that it includes Action Comics #1 (valued at $325,000) and Batman’s first appearance in Detective Comics #27 (valued at $475,000)—it’s expected to pull in at least $2 million. According to Lon Allen, the managing director of comics for Heritage Auctions, the Dallas-based auction house overseeing the sale:
“This is just one of those collections that all the guys in the business think don’t exist anymore. … It was kind of hard to wrap my head around it.”
Looks like Rorrer will be wrapping himself up in a lot of cash.
