eBay: STERANKO ORIGINAL MARVEL F.O.O.M. POSTER PEN & INK 1973
Good luck sorting all of this out, by the way…
Final Bid: US $22,100.00 Seller:t.gautier( 43)
Here's the description:
"Dear Discerning Collector:
We proudly announce the sale of a unique piece of art and Marvel comic history: the original 1973 Marvel F.O.O.M. poster drawn and hand-painted by the renowned artist, Jim Steranko! The large, viewable and well-known piece is 29.5" L X 24" W". The art features the primary Marvel heroes of that era:
SPIDER MAN (rare)
HULK (rare)
SILVER SURFER (rare)
THE THING
MR. FANTASTIC
HUMAN TORCH
DARE DEVIL
IRON MAN (rare)
CAPTAIN AMERICA (artist's claim to fame)
BLACK WIDOW (only time ever drawn)
THOR
ANGEL (unique, special edition costume)
BLACKBOLT
VISION
This is an extremely rare and unique, historical piece of nostalgia and it would be the proud cornerstone of any illustrated, comic art collection.
History of the FOOM poster
"The FOOM poster was not an abbreviation but an acronym for "Friends Of Old Marvel". Created by both Stan Lee and Jim Steranko, another talented artist at Marvel, it made its official debut in 1973. Readers already knew what FOOM stood for because it was the title of the popular magazine which had been in circulation for several months. Regardless, ads went out declaring that it was the "Ultimate" fan club for just $2.50. The mailing envelope was the most creative ever. It was a full-sized face of the Hulk with the recipient's name/address printed on a label inside his mouth. It was as though the Hulk was welcoming each new member personally. The contents were no disappointment either and in full-color! Hulk Mailing Envelope; Official Membership Card; Official Membership Poster (22 X 28 inches) With A Special Greeting By Stan Lee Printed At The Bottom , six sticker; the First Three FOOM Issues (One year subscriptions were briefly offered in early ads). The club never revised the kit and it lasted up until the late-1970's. Both "FOOM" and "Marvelmania" have become a part of the Marvel vernacular and will always bring fond memories to those early generations of Marvelites."
" The history of the original art is that it was donated by the artist to a private, charitable foundation. It had been subsequently auctioned; bestowed upon and; bequeathed to up to here and now where it is, alas, reluctantly, available to grace the wall of any serious collector and aficionado of this art medium.
" The item is authentic and has been confirmed as such by the artist, agent, various representatives, esteemed collectors and auctions houses nationwide. It is regrettable that the art cannot be freely donated by the owner to a museum for the enjoyment by the graphic art-loving public.
" The art is legally and incontrovertibly owned outright by its present owner.
" The art was lastly appraised at and could have easily fetched approximately $45,000.00 as of this posting.
" Please bid with the full confidence which our rating has indicated and the comfort in knowing that the winning bidder will proudly own this one-of-a-kind, original, awe-inspiring work of art by one our foremost, versatile, esteemed, graphic artists.
"Thank you.
"On Jan-21-07 at 16:23:01 PST, seller added the following information:
"ART FOR ART'S SAKE
"There has been a campaign launched by the artist against the sale of this art. This should clarify any concerns. However, before we begin, allow us to inform you that this auction was temporarily removed by eBay ONLY because some of the dialogue were not within its guidelines. The dialogue was changed to comply with the parameters established by eBay and was successfully relisted as it is now and has been. Thank you.
"Now, in response to the artist's smear campaign and pleas.
"PROVENANCE:
"1. Steranko gave away his drawing to a friend in the 1970s.
"2. Said friend donated it along with other comic drawings to an institution.
"3. After said friend's death, institution auctioned, sold, gave away most of the comic drawings, including FOOM.
"4.One of a couple previous owners of the FOOM piece, passed on, leaving it to a friend and current owner.
"5. After the piece decorated the wall of gleeful children's bedrooms (having previously thought it was a mere a repro poster until it had to be reframed and then discovered it was the original art board), the current owner, realizing its potential value after the boom of Marvel heroes being turned into extremely popular movies, decided to arrange a photo op with and a re-signing of the valuable art by the artist, Jim Steranko.
"6. Steranko, via his agent, now wanted his now valuable art back in his possession and refused to meet or sign until he was assured he could buy/own it again. An attempt for it to be silently and secretly purchased by/via his agent for a non-respectable ten percent of its minimum appraised value was declined by current owner.
"7. No mutual benefit could be struck, no hand-shakes given or cigars passed around; the meeting, signing and photo op was declined. Many subsequent emails were exhanged between artist and owner about it, but to no avail.
"8. Now the art is up for sale to the general public by the current and legal owner.
"9. Steranko launched a selfish (but understandable), shameful smear campaign to discredit the provenance of his own art and to interfere with its sale.
"10. We are sorry he feels this way. We are not a charity organization or an auction house.
"11. After many individual offers to purchase it from us (and lastly being appraised for a minimum of $45k) have been politely declined, we felt the eBay market is where most collectors can be aware of it, view it and have the opportunity to own it thorugh the practice of a fair, capitalist marketplace.
"T. Gautier: credited with being the first to adopt as a slogan, the phrase, "Art For Art's Sake" or l'art pour l'art".
"On Jan-25-07 at 19:23:12 PST, seller added the following information:
"Dear Discerning Collector:
"While we are very appreciative of your earnest interest in the original FOOM poster art by Steranko, we cannot help but reiterate that this rare and valauble piece is intended for the more serious art/memorabilia collector.
"We have received many queries about our approving partial or installment payment plans for potential winners. Though we wanted all fans of this medium and artist to view and be a part of a democratic bidding process for this art, however, to avoid shutting down this auction prematurely and relisting it with an exclusionary official minimum bid of at least forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00), bear in mind that we cannot accept payment arrangements by any potential winner and to further ensure that this art is intended for the informed, well-intended, extremely serious bidder and avid connoisseur of illustrated, comic hero art. Its final value will reflect its true worth as befits this rare, nostalgic and original piece of art memorabilia and worthy of the artist, Steranko.
"While there may be many spectators, dreamers and bidders in this process, in the end game there can only be ONE victor.
Best of luck to you all and bon chance!
"
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