American Comics Update: The Bute Collection: Batmania: Classic Wartime American Eagle Cover on Batman #17 (1943)
*DC: Another special issue of Batman from the Golden Age courtesy of the Bute Collection. Batman #17 features an iconic cover by Jerry Robinson (signed as by Bob Kane) with Batman and Robin aloft upon an American Eagle against a black sky and yellow moon, encouraging us to: ‘Keep the American Eagle flying! Buy war bonds and stamps!’ Four Batman stories within, including a Penguin caper, with art by Bob Kane and Jack Burnley. This is a notoriously tough comic to get in decent grade due to the black cover, but this copy holds up pretty well. There is some wear with chips out along the bottom edge (nothing too serious, see images) and a tiny weeny colour-breaking crease across the bottom right corner. There is also a 2 cm tear at bottom edge below the moon which is barely noticeable and is without loss. Both staples are tight and firm and the pages are supple and a beautiful off-white. A long and a short indentation show on the inside front cover and only faintly show on the outside front cover when viewed from a certain angle. There are one of two other very faint lines on the front and back covers which do not break colour and perhaps suggest that the comic was used to rest on at some time in its history, but to the best of our knowledge there are no colour touches nor any restoration to the cover. Inside covers are tanned but not brittle. Certainly a remarkable copy. High resolution images are available on request.
PICTURED: BATMAN #17 VG- £1,200