APPRAISER: When you came to the table this morning, I literally felt my heart almost jump out of my chest. So I would love to know how you ended up with these Mad magazine pages.
GUEST: Six years ago, my uncle died, and I inherited them from him. And he always had such cool things, so it was really exciting to get them, because I really like Mad magazine, and so I knew it had to be worth something. I know that they are from issue number eight, and from December 1953 to January '54, it was that issue.
APPRAISER: Everybody commonly refers to it as Mad magazine...
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: But actually it wasn't even referred to as Mad magazine until issue 24. Mad, just Mad, was released in 1952, and it was created by Harvey Kurtzman and William Gaines. It covered anything, it poked fun at everybody. Mad is super-edgy, and it was meant to be enjoyed by the 12-year-old. It was meant to be enjoyed by the freshman in college. Everybody enjoyed Mad, and that's why so many people covet it today. Just as you stated, this is from issue eight, which is very early in the Mad series. And when you look at it, it pokes fun at who? Dr. Frankenstein, the Universal monster. You have the creation of Frankenstein and Dr. "Frank N. Stein." And as you follow, you see the monster throughout the whole story, but you only find out right at the end, who did he create? Adolf.
GUEST: Right. (chuckles)
APPRAISER: So you see the poking fun at the German regime there, with Hitler as the monster created by the crazy doctor.
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: Will Elder was actually one of the four founding artists and illustrators that worked on Mad in the first initial run of one through 24. When it comes to comic art, Mad magazine art, anything-- having the original artwork is the pinnacle of collecting. It's incredibly rare to see that, and the other thing is, to have the complete storyboard is absolutely ridiculous. When it comes to comic art, it literally cannot get any better. You have the ultimate package with a cherry on top.
GUEST: Mm.
APPRAISER: It's unbelievable. So do you have any idea what your uncle paid? Do you have... Or what...
GUEST: I think he paid, uh, $3,150 or $3,250 in...
APPRAISER: So, like, $3,100?
GUEST: Yeah. Back in 1987.
APPRAISER: In today's market, conservatively at auction, I would put an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000 for the entire storyboard.
GUEST: (chuckles) Wow.
APPRAISER: It's literally... Only one other example of an early Mad storyboard-- complete-- has ever come to the market. That's the key thing.
GUEST: Wow.
APPRAISER: To have the whole package, i, isn't that crazy?
GUEST: (laughing): It is crazy.
APPRAISER: Talk about a good investment.
GUEST: Yes, oh, my God.
APPRAISER: Thank your uncle, huh?
GUEST: Yes.
