Heritage Offers CGC-certified File Copies of Classic Cartoons

A remarkable group of classic cartoon comics that are graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) is offering fans a chance to own near-pristine pieces of pop culture history. From beloved Saturday morning icons to vintage TV favorites, these rare, publisher-retained editions are available in Heritage Auctions’ Dell & Gold Key File Copies Comic Showcase Auction on May 8, 2025.

File copies are publisher-retained comics set aside at the time of printing for internal reference or archival purposes. Comics in this auction originated from the files of Gold Key and Dell Publishing — two of the most influential publishers in mid-century American comics, known for their high-quality adaptations of popular film and TV properties.

Featured in this auction is a Four Color #9 (Donald Duck) graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81040). This 1942 comic from Dell Publishing is the first time Donald Duck was drawn by the iconic Carl Barks. Often called "The Good Duck Artist," Barks is the legendary cartoonist behind some of the most beloved Donald Duck comics ever created. Working for Disney without initial credit, Barks crafted rich, adventurous stories filled with humor, heart and unforgettable characters like Uncle Scrooge. His work helped elevate Donald from a hot-headed cartoon to a fully developed comic book hero, earning Barks a devoted following and a lasting legacy in comic history.

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Another wacky comic in this auction is a Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics #1 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 81153). This comic from Dell Publishing in 1941 featured the first comic book appearance of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and Elmer Fudd. This issue captured the slapstick charm and fast-paced humor of the cartoons and kicked off a long-running series that helped bring the zany energy of Looney Tunes to comic readers.

Other CGC-certified comics in this auction include:

• a Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #8 graded CGC 9.6 (lot 81032)
• a Four Color #29 (Donald Duck) graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81050)
• a Four Color #33 (Bugs Bunny) graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81052)
• a Four Color #74 (Little Lulu) graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81062)
• a Four Color #148 (Albert the Alligator and Pogo Possum) graded CGC 9.4 (lot 81077)
• a Four Color #367 (Donald Duck) graded CGC 9.6 (lot 81102)
• a Four Color #386 (Uncle Scrooge) graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81104)
• an Our Gang Comics #8 graded CGC 9.4 (lot 81194)
• an Uncle Scrooge #4 graded CGC 9.2 (lot 81221)
• a Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #20 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81258)

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.