Planet of the Apes 50th Anniversary

2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Pierre Boulle’s science-fiction classic La Planète des singes, also known in English as Planet of the Apes. The novel was published in France in 1963 by René Julliard, with the first English language version, translated by Xan Fielding, published in the United States by Vanguard Press in June 1963. The first paperback edition was published in the US in March 1964 by Signet / New American Library. The novel has inspired a media franchise comprising several films, two television series (one animated), comic books, toys, etc. The small collection gathered here is comprised of the following items:

 

Planet of the Apes 35th anniversary DVD - Released 2004 by 20th Century Fox. 2 DVDs. 1968/color/112 min. Anamorphic, Color, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Widescreen.

 

 

Dr. Zaius Mego figure - By 1973 a total of five Ape films had been released, and while it might have seemed like the end of the Ape dynasty, it was actually the beginning of the short-lived phenomenon referred to as Ape-Mania. In 1973, 20th Century Fox advertising challenged America to “Go Ape!” They began showing the first two Ape films on TV and all five Ape films in back to back marathons in movie theatres. As luck would have it, Mego President Marty Abrams attended a screening with his son, not even knowing what Planet of the Apes was, but saw fathers and sons enjoying the films together. The next day he was reportedly on the phone with 20th Century Fox executives securing the rights to produce figures based on the Planet of the Apes property. This figure, an early issue Dr. Zaius with the simpler black hero boot, was released in the summer of 1974.

 

 

Addar Cornelius Hobby Kit - The original Planet of the Apes model series was produced by Addar between 1973 and 1975. The kit was sold as a snap-together kit (no glue needed), so no paint or glue was included with the kits. Addar was out of business by 1976, but Cornelius, Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zira and General Ursus were reissued by Polar Lights under the Aurora logo in the 1990s.

 

Adventures on the Planet of the Apes #1 - Comic Book published by Marvel Comics group in 1975. Cover art is by Jim Starlin ; interior art by Ploog and Tuska. This adaptation of the movie by Doug Moench reprints material from Marvel’s Planet of the Apes magazine, but for the first time in color.

 

 

Rubber Gorilla Soldier - Copyright 1973 APJAC Productions and 20th Century Fox; Manufacturer unknown.

 

Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle - First US paperback edition published in March 1964 by Signet / New American Library.

 

Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle - Signet, 18th printing 451-Q5646, circa 1973.

 

Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle - Ballantine Books edition, 1st thus, May 2001.

 

Beneath the Planet of the Apes by Michael Avallone - Bantam Books S5674, first printing, July 1970.

 

Escape from the Planet of the Apes by Jerry Pournelle - Award Books, first printing, 1973.

 

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes by John Jakes - Award Books, first printing, 1973.

 

Battle for the Planet of the Apes by David Gerrold - Award Books, first printing, 1973.

 

Assorted Topps trading cards - From a set for the short-lived Planet of the Apes TV show released in 1975.

 

Pierre Boulle’s Planet of the Apes, a science-fiction classic, was the beginning of a long lasting  series of interpretations of his fantastic vision. Generations have grown up on his ideas, written books with subjects as diverse as 'Planet of the Apes and Philosophy' and 'Planet of the Apes as American Myth: Race and Politics in the Films and Television', and made their own films capturing Boulle’s vision. There have been toys, and games, movies, and books, and a myriad of other products. Truly, the last fifty years have been the Age of the Apes! In the words of the Lawgiver from Battle for the Planet of the Apes: "The promise is yours to keep. Yours to pass on to your children for them to keep." 

Canada Post Banff National Park Stamp

This attractive Canadian postage stamp was issued by Canada Post on June 21, 1985, to commemorate the centenary of world renowned Banff National Park. The stamp itself is an un-mounted mint example of the $2 stamp, beautifully printed using a combination of engraving and lithography. It is housed on a card that slides into an outer cardboard sleeve adorned with vintage and contemporary images of Banff National Park.

Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park, established in 1885 in the Rocky Mountains. The park, located 110–180 km west of Calgary in the province of Alberta, encompasses 6,641 km2 of mountainous terrain, with numerous glaciers and ice fields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine landscapes. The Canadian Pacific Railway was instrumental in Banff's early years, building the Banff Springs Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise, and attracting tourists through extensive advertising.

Conversion of Assets IV

The recent discovery of a small cache of coins lead to a case of 'silver-fever' in the ranks at Clint Carson's Collectibles, and soon the rummaging began for items in the cast-off box to see what could be traded for the "poor man's gold". In short order a vintage Mego 'Mad Monsters' Wolfman Action Figure was uncovered! This 8" action figure featured Glow-in-the-Dark claws and eyes! The Copyright date on the body reads MCMLXXI (1971), though the actual release of the Mad Monsters line was between 1973/74. The figure has its original costume as well, except for the shoes, which went missing over the years. The overall condition of the figure is very good with some signs of wear-and-tear, but most joints still tight and poseable. The glow in the dark plastic of the eyes has softened into a globule near the eyeballs, and there are some other cosmetic issues, but those have no appreciable effect on the quality of the figure. This 'Mad Monsters' Wolfman was sold for $28.48 USD.

In turn, the 'silver-fever' was sated when a series of American Roosevelt dimes were found. In 1946 the new Roosevelt dime replaced the Winged Liberty Head ("Mercury") dime, and, like its predecessor, those minted before the passage of the Coinage Act of 1965 are comprised of 90% silver and weigh 2.5 grams. The price of silver has slid back in recent weeks, and as of this writing a gram of silver valued at approximately $0.96 USD. Regardless, each dime, with a face value of only 10 cents, is now worth $2.16 USD in silver content alone. As such, the Mego 'Mad Monsters' Wolfman was effectively traded for 13 dimes with a combined face value of $1.30! But although the figure was not of the quality that was appreciated here, it has now gone to a new home where, hopefully, it is given the attention it deserves.

Thor 160

Thor issue 160, by Stan (the man) Lee and Jack (king) Kirby, was published by Marvel Comics with a cover date of January 1969. Jack Kirby (August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994), born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor, and one of the most influential creators in the comic book medium. Teaming up with writer/editor Stan Lee on The Fantastic Four in 1961, the series became a hit that revolutionized the industry. The same creative team, joined by scripter Larry Lieber (Stan's brother), debuted Thor in Journey into Mystery 83 (August 1962), an anthology which was retitled Thor with issue 126 (March 1966). With Thor, Kirby continued to expand the medium's boundaries, working with photo-collage and developing new drawing techniques such as the method for depicting energy fields now known as "Kirby Krackle", and other experiments.

Galactus first appeared on the scene in Fantastic Four 48 “The Coming of Galactus!”, and after he left he wasn’t supposed to return for a very long time. Needless to say, Galactus became an immediate hit with the readers and Lee, ever in touch with the fan base, prompted Kirby to bring Galactus back in not only Fantastic Four, but Thor as well. Issue 160 brings us the first part of Galactus vs. Ego! Planet eater vs. living planet - with the colonizers of Rigel, the Recorder, and Thor in the middle! This copy is estimated to be in a very collectible VF+ condition, with nice cover gloss, creamy/white pages, and a tight centerfold. The main critique of its condition is a small 1/3 inch crease on the bottom right-hand corner of the cover. Acquired some years ago for only $10 CDN, the book is both a great work of art and a great investment.

Walt Disney's Seven Dwarfs figurines

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Based on the German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, it is the first full-length cel animated feature in motion picture history. The film premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre on December 21, 1937, to a wildly receptive audience, receiving a standing ovation at its completion from a star-studded audience that included such celebrities as Charlie Chaplin, Shirley Temple, Ginger Rogers, Clark Gable and a host of others. RKO Radio Pictures put the film into general release on February 4, and it went on to become a major box-office success, making four times more money than any other motion picture released in 1938. Further, noted critics and filmmakers, such as Sergei Eisenstein and Charlie Chaplin, praised Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as a notable achievement in cinema.

Frank Seiberling, founder of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, so named in honor of Charles Goodyear who invented vulcanized rubber, also founded the Seiberling Rubber Company in 1921. In 1933, Tom Casey, the company's Vice-President, happened to catch a showing of Walt Disney's Three Little Pigs at a local theater and, according to a 1938 newspaper article, ventured out west to secure the rights to produce rubber figurines based on characters from the Three Little Pigs. Casey also believed Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarf's was going to be a huge hit, so much so that his factory produced 40,000 of the figurines in anticipation of the film's success. The figures appeared in the marketplace two months prior to the film's premiere, and although sales may have been slow to start, when Walt Disney's feature went into general release in 1938, Snow White mania swept the nation. Unfortunately, most of Seiberling's toys have fallen victim to oxidation, leaving collectors hard pressed to find examples in anything better than very good condition.

Spawn Promotional Poster

Spawn is a fictional comic book character, created by writer/artist Todd McFarlane, who first appeared in Malibu Sun #13 (May 1992), and afterward in a monthly comic book published by Image Comics. This promotional poster measures 28 cm by 40.5 cm when fully open, and features a full color image of McFarlane's Spawn. When folded, the poster features two additional black-and-white images by McFarlane. Designed for advertising use, the poster came pre-folded, and is therefore in its original condition. As an advertising piece, this poster pre-dates the release of Spawn #1, and although the popularity of Spawn has faded over time, the launch of Image Comics is still considered a milestone event that rocked the Comic book industry.

Todd McFarlane, born March 16, 1961, is a Canadian cartoonist, artist, writer, toy designer and entrepreneur, best known for his work in comic books. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, McFarlane became a comic book superstar due to his work on Marvel Comics' Spider-Man franchise. After Spider-Man #16 (Nov. 1991), McFarlane left the book due to creative differences with new editor Danny Fingeroth, and helped form Image Comics, pulling the occult anti-hero Spawn from his high school portfolio, and updating him for the 1990s. Spawn was a popular hero in the 1990s, and encouraged a trend in creator-owned comic book properties.

1938 Canadian Quarter

Recently, the numismatics department uncovered a small trove of pre-1960 Canadian quarters. Out of dozens of specimens this coin was the oldest found in the trove, and is dated 1938. As such, the obverse side of the coin is graced with a portrait of King George VI, and the reverse side of the coin the iconic Caribou. The numismatics department estimates the coin is in (VG-8) Very Good condition, i.e. very worn, but with all major design elements clear, if faint.

The beauty of the Canadian 25-cent piece from this era, aside from the visual aesthetics, is the fact that they are composed of 80% silver. Since the weight of a quarter is 5.83 grams, 80% of that is 4.66 grams of pure silver. And, with a gram of silver at $1.04 CDN, the quarter, with its face value of only 25 cents, is worth $4.85 CDN in silver content alone. Added to that is the vintage of the coin, which, at 74 years of age and in this condition, adds at least 50% to its value.