Antique Helper Auctions in Indianapolis, Indiana, is pleased to announce a special session featuring select items from a well-known Superhero collection during the monthly Art and Antiques Auction  on Saturday, January 22.

 Considered to be the second largest collection of Superman-related objects and memorabilia in the world, this collection has been widely exhibited and studied. 

 Vintage Superman costumes from this collection were displayed at the Indiana State Museum in 2006, during the IMAX screening of Superman Returns. 

 In 2007, the collection found plenty of press again, with the opening of the American Superheroes Museum in downtown Indianapolis. The museum was widely heralded online and in print from coast to coast.  The museum, which filled more than 3,300 square feet in the old Kipp Brothers building in downtown Indianapolis, showcased  thousands of Batman, Superman and other superhero-related items, representing a collection that started more than 50 years ago, when the founder first started collecting.

 Despite the attention showered upon it, after only 10 months, legal and financial problems lead to the closing of American Superheroes Museum and dispersal of the collections.

 This well-known collection has since been offered, and removed, twice at auction, in 2009 and 2010. 

 Items offered in the January 22 sale come to Antique Helper following seizure by court order. 

 “Our intention is to sell these items for what they are,” says Antique Helper owner Dan Ripley. “We are responsible for the total liquidation of this collection; the history of the pieces has already been written.”

 Among the most valuable pieces in this auction will be a selection of rare vintage Superman costumes, most reportedly purchased from noted superman expert and historian, Jim Hambrick, the owner of the largest Superman collection in the world. 

 The oldest costume was reportedly worn by George Reeves (1914-1959), star of the 1950s Superman television program.  Estimated at previous auctions to fetch between $120,000 and $150,000,  it will be offered with no reserve. 

 The sale also includes Superman costumes said to have been worn by the late Christopher Reeve and Lois And Clark’s Dean Cain, as well as a Supergirl costume reportedly worn by Helen Slater in the 1984 film Supergirl.

 Also offered  are numerous film stills, movie posters and collectibles.  In addition to the much written about Superman items, there will also be a large assortment of other superhero-related memorabilia, including Batman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman and other costumed crime fighters.

It seems the that it is the perfect time for Antique Helper to offer this important Superman collection.  Jeff Figler reinforced the popularity of Superman memorabilia in his January column, “Collecting Comic Memorabilia” in The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles.  Add to that the publication of TASCHEN books extra-extra large sized coffee table book, “75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking,” and it is clear: Superhero excitement is in the air.

 All items will be sold without reserve.

 Offered as part of the auction house’s January Art and Antiques Auction, the Superhero collection will be sold in a separate session, which will include cataloged and uncataloged lots, starting at approximately 2:00 PM EST.

 For more information about this special auction event, visit Antique Helper’s website, www.antiquehelper.com or call 317-251-5635.

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