Two of the most important collections ever assembled will converge at Heritage Auctions' Vintage Comics and Comic Art sale on July 26-28, with record-breaking results expected to push the auction total past $9m.

If it achieves this lofty aim it will become the single highest-selling comic book auction of all time. Helping the sale on its way to its record sum will be the Shamus Modern Masterworks collection of original comic art and the Doug Schmell collection of Marvel Silver Age comics.

The Shamus Modern Masterworks collection was compiled by Martin Shamus, a comic book shop owner who had the privilege of obtaining art direct from the artists in the late 1980s and 1990s. His incredible collection is highlighted by the famed Todd McFarlane cover art for the seminal Spider-Man #1 (Marvel 1990).

"There is no doubt that, when it comes to the very best comic art of the late 1980s and early 1990s, McFarlane's mind-blowing, oft-reproduced Spider-Man no. 1 is the single most important image," said Heritage's Steve Borock. The work is currently selling at $195,000, already surpassing its $150,000 estimate with seven days left to bid.

Doug Schmell's collection is considered the single greatest grouping of Silver Age Marvel CGC #1 registry sets ever assembled and will be led by his spectacular X-men #1 Pacific Coast pedigree. Estimated at $250,000+, the copy has already met the expected figure through online bids. A unique copy, it is graded at CGC NM/MT 9.8 and remains the finest known example in existence.

Heritage's Lon Allen commented: "It doesn't get much better than this amazing, jaw-dropping pedigreed copy of the comic book that launched one of Marvel's most lucrative trademarks, the crown jewel of Schmell's collection."

Check back with Paul Fraser Collectibles to see the results of this monumental sale and all the latest news from the world of comic book collecting.