February 20Feb 20 I have a question for comic collectors about valuation. I have a copy of Superman #1, in an auction currently. It is graded 6.5, unrestored. When assembling provenance, I gathered some pictures I found, from when my father loaned the comic to the Smithsonian Institution for the 50th anniversary Superman Exhibit.Among the pictures, are the stars of Superman IV, including Christopher Reeve, photographed by the side of the exhibit, in front of a wooden Superman wall piece. In another picture the wall piece is visible on the edge of the display showing the comic. The text reads that the comic was in the exhibit, which was timed with the opening of the movie, but it doesn't make clear that the photos of the movie cast are from the exhibit, with the comic that is being sold. I have shown it to friends and family, and no one has understood that the pictures are of Christopher Reeve at the exhibition. It looks like they could just be a random photo of the actors.I had my brother, who is handling the sale, talk to the Auctioneer, and their position is that they don't think it matters, and were not willing to update the text on the auction page to make the association clear. If I were a buyer, I should think I'd love to describe that it is the one seen by the actor that many consider the real Superman. To me, this is part of the conversation that goes with owning the comic, and sets it apart from any other copy, with a unique provenance that cannot be replicated. I have included the photos from the exhibition. My question is for you opinion? Is the provenance significant? Does it matter, in the auction, to make this clear? I feel like I only get one chance to put the best foot forward and I don't think the auction has successfully done that. The analogy that is meaningful to me is, "there is a difference in value between a 62 Fender Stratocaster, and a 62 Fender Stratocaster that's pictured with Jimi Hendrix." Opinions?
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