BATMAN CARDS: No.3. Manic Menace. Probably the caped crusader's most famous foe---
The Joker!
From: (1991) ULTRA-RARE 9-CARD
SET
Art by DICK SPRANG & PETER
POPLASKI.
BACKGROUND: In 1991, DC Comics and
Kitchen Sink Press co-published four softcover volumes
and two deluxe editions of Batman:
The Dailies and Batman: The Sunday Classics,
assembling for the first time the earliest Golden Age
Batman newspaper strips from 1943-46. Both deluxed editions
were slip-cased hardcovers with all-new Poplaski/Sprang
covers and were limited to only 500 copies, signed by
the five surviving 1940's Batman creators, including Bob
Kane and Sprang. In 1991 the special editions retailed
for $150 each and only half ---250--- were actually sold, by
KSP, to collectors. (see original 1991 ad.) DC Comics used
its 250 copy share for Time-Warner corporate gifts.
The co-publishers created a special
bonus which was bound into the final page of the hardcover
Sundays edition ONLY--- A sheet of NINE
BATMAN TRADING CARDS on card stock. The card images were
custom created by Sprang (1915-2000) and Poplaski,
two of the definitive Batman artists, and the informative
backs were written by Batman historian Joe Desris.
These cards appeared no where else, nor have the 9 unique images
ever been recycled. Even though the card sheet was perforated
along the spine side, it's likely that very few collectors removed
the bonus cards from such an expensive book for fear of harming
its completeness and value. The truth is, very few card collectors
or Batman collectors today even know about
these knock-out cards!
In 1991 co-publisher Denis Kitchen
used a small overrun of the card sheets ("no more than 100
sets") as promotional gifts for industry friends and customers.
He then presciently set aside the remaining original inserts
and individually cut cards. Unless you can find a hardcover Batman
Sundays edition (currently selling in the $350+ range)---
his file sets are the sole source for these very rare cards.
The condition of the surviving cards offered here is NM/Mint.
We're offering the individual Joker card.
See back of card here.
Price: $10.00
(see bottom of
page for links to all individual cards AND uncut sheet)
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