Lot # 2904: 1940 R145 Gum, Inc. "Superman" Near-Complete Set (58/72) Including 21 Graded Cards Plus Wrapper

Presented is a near-complete set of 1940 R145 "Superman" consisting of 58 different cards (out of 72 in the set). Missing the following fourteen cards from the extremely rare high-number series (#49-72): #49, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 59, 62, 63, 64, 65, 70, 71, and 72. Gum, Inc.'s 1940 "Superman" series is one of the most popular non-sport sets ever issued. Its outstanding color, detailed artwork, popular subject matter, and the exciting adventures presented on the backs, all contribute to making this set one of non-sport collecting's all-time classics. It is also one of the few sets with tremendous crossover appeal, of great interest to comic and Superman collectors as well as card collectors. Twenty-one cards have been professionally graded and encapsulated by PSA (13), SGC (4), GAI (2), and BVG (2). Grading Composite (PSA unless noted): EX-MT 6 (1 card): #40. EX+ 5.5 (1 card): #21 (BVG EX+ 5.5). EX 5 (8 cards): #4, 5, 20 (SGC EX 60), 24, 26, 31 (GAI EX 5), 46, and 57. VG-EX+ 4.5 (4 cards): #10, 14, 33 (GAI VG-EX+ 4.5), and 48 (BVG VG-EX+ 4.5). VG-EX 4 (2 cards): #12 and 15. VG 3 (3 cards): #17, 30 (SGC VG 40), and 41 (SGC VG 40). POOR 1 (1 card): #58. Authentic (1 card): #60. The condition of the 37-card unencapsulated balance is 16% Ex or slightly better, 65% Vg to Vg-Ex, and 19% lesser (including one altered). Unencapsulated Key: #1 Superman (Vg). Also included in this collection are an original R145 wax wrapper, a 1943 Kellogg's Pep "Superman and the Super-Rocket Bomb!" comic panel, and three 1955 Kellogg's Sugar Smacks mini comics. The rare wrapper is a bit off-center from top to bottom and displays slightly more than normal packaging wrinkles and folds, but is still in overall Very Good condition. The comic panel is hand cut from a cereal box, otherwise grading Pr-Fr due to creasing and spots of paper loss on the reverse. The three 1955 mini comics ("Duel in Space," "The Superman Time Capsule!" and "The Supershow of Metropolis") grade Vg to Vg-Ex overall. This is an outstanding vintage "Superman" collection, highlighted by a very attractive mid-grade near set of one of the most popular of all non-sports card issues. Total: 63 items (near set of 58 cards, three mini comics, a box panel, and a wrapper). The size/weight of this item requires that there will be an additional shipping charge for this lot.