Historic Hal Foster Tarzan Sunday Sells for $35,000

Foster Tarzan page sells for $35K

The original art for a 1933 Tarzan Sunday page by the legendary Hal Foster sold at auction last week for $35,000. The page depicts the origin of Edgar Rice Burrough's famous ape-man and was used to introduce readers to the strip whenever a new paper picked it up. Thus, this particular strip would have published at different times in different parts of the country.






Hal Foster (1892-1982)

The page was sold in the ComicLink November Featured Auction and while the price achieved was significant, it was probably less than what the consignor was hoping for with such a historic piece. The final bidding price was likely held down by the significant amount of restoration that was undertaken in order to conserve the brittle page (see below for a pre-restoration pic). Having the work undertaken, however, was clearly necessary in order to preserve such a historic piece and it looks spectacular.

Foster is one of the great pioneers of comic art. His work, first on Tarzan and later on his own long-running Prince Valiant strip, had a tremendous influence on the next generation of comic artists, including Frank Frazetta, Jack Kirby, and Al Williamson.



Tarzan page prior to restoration.