A piece of original Robert Crumb cover art will lead Heritage Auctions’ two day sale of Comics and Comic Art in Dallas on August 10-12.
Crumb produced the artwork for Zap Comix #1 (1968), the publication that exploded the underground comix scene on an unsuspecting America.
Robert Crumb Zap Comix series kick started the underground comix scene
Almost anything went, no matter how revolting, sexually explicit or taboo busting.
This issue itself featured the first appearance of Crumb’s iconic Keep on Truckin’ strip – one of the great counterculture symbols of the late 1960s.
As far as statements of intent go, this cover is unabashedly straightforward.
In the end it may have been just a bit too near the knuckle. Crumb decided to scrap it in favour of a cover featuring perennial favourite Mr Natural.
One issue later he released a toned down version of this design for Zap Comix #0.
This lost cover is of central importance to the history of comic art.
As if that wasn’t enough to cement its counterculture credentials, it’s consigned from the collection of Graham Nash - of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young fame.
Nash comments: "The Zap #1 cover is, I believe, a very important piece in the arc of Robert's journey as a great artist.
“He has to confront censorship for the first time, and you can see why. This long-lost piece is a wonder to behold."
The artwork is valued at up to $100,000.
Crumb’s record was set earlier this year, when the cover of an omnibus for his seminal character Fritz the Cat realised $717,000.
A CGC 9.0-graded copy of The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (signed by creator Stan Lee) is also featured, with an opening bid of $28,680.
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