Antiques PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Antiques PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Dallas Sci-Fi and Fantasy Art Collection Auction

Art from one of the world’s most incredible science fiction and fantasy art collections will be sold at auction October 15 in Dallas by Heritage Auction Galleries.

Jane and Howard Frank met on a blind date while he was in college and she was in high school in the 1960s (they married six years later). The two quickly discovered they had a shared passion for art of the weird and fantastic, and immediately began obtaining classic works of fantasy art by the like of Margaret Brundage, Frank Kelly Freas, Edward Gorey, Boris Vallejo, and many others.

Mr. Frank’s imagination was not limited to the world of fiction – he’s an information technology expert whose accomplishments include fundamental contributions to the development of the Internet. He’s currently the dean of the business school at the University of Maryland.

During those early days, demand was low and much of this artwork was not sought after by mainstream collectors – or in some cases, not even acknowledged as art. The couple obtained many works early in the careers of illustrators who have since become celebrated artists. Two lavish books have been devoted to the Franks’ amazing collection and appreciation for this uniquely American art form has skyrocketed, with the pieces to be brought to auction now valued at more than $500,000.

In addition to the rare artwork, also featured is an outstanding selection from the Franks’ comprehensive library of science fiction and fantasy pulps and books, and unique manuscript material.

Highlights of the collection include:

Margaret Brundage
The Altar of Melek, Weird Tales cover, September 1932
Estimate: $40,000-$50,000

Virgil Finlay
Minimum Man, Famous Fantastic Mysteries cover, August 1947
Estimate: $6,000

Allen Anderson
War Maid of Mars, Planet Stories cover, May 1953
Estimate: $20,000-$30,000

Norman Saunders
Newscast, Marvel Science Stories cover, April/May 1939
Estimate: $25,000-$30,000

Heritage’s Illustration Art auction will be held October 15, 2008, in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please visit www.HA.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of Illustration Art are invited to www.HA.com/Sell