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Captain America’s Shield at Hake’s, Geppi Gems on Exhibit

n 2011, 70 years after Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created Captain
America, actor Chris Evans assumed the role in Captain America:
IThe First Avenger. He continued to portray the character through
the first four phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, culminating in
2019’s Avengers: Endgame. The box office results speak for themselves,
and for many viewers, Captain America replaced Superman as the
preeminent patriotic American superhero.
Now, Hake’s Auctions is offering Captain America’s screen-used,
iconic shield from Avengers: Endgame in its November 2-3, 2021 The Geppi Gems exhibit, now open at the Library of Congress, showcases highlights
auction. Constructed by Marvel Studios Prop Master Russell Bobbitt, from the Stephen A. Geppi Collection of Comics and Graphic Arts.
the shield is 24” in diameter, approximately 3” deep, and is constructed Image courtesy of Bruce Guthrie
of high-density foam with a spun aluminum exterior and hand-crafted Gems, and it is open to the public. The exhibit showcases a selection of
leather arm and hand straps on the interior. prominent pieces from popular Walt Disney characters, superheroes,
Between 30 and 40 shields were produced for Endgame. However, westerns, science fiction, and other aspects of entertainment. As
this example was used for close-up shots in Evans’ hand as it shows the the new exhibit’s title suggests, this new presentation is filled with
most detail, while the other prop shields in the film were used in long significant highlights from Geppi’s donated collection.
shots and action sequences, lasting one or two scenes Mixing entertainment and education, the exhibit shows how the
before sustaining damage from use associ- introduction of color printing in early newspapers helped develop the
ated with stunt work. This shield was comics industry. The creative genius of Walt Disney is explored, from
handled with care on-set so it developing characters to marketing them to building an empire. A
could be utilized in multiple similarly important pop culture impact is the evolution of superheroes,
scenes, making its near-pristine from Superman’s introduction in 1938 to the multimedia juggernaut
condition an even rarer feat. of today, and how Geppi turned his hobby into Diamond Comic
This Captain America Distributors and the larger Geppi Family Enterprises.
shield has an interesting and Within specific genres, the science fiction portion boasts the
well-documented provenance. heights of imagination with early 20th century magazines through
It was gifted to a youth long-running comics that feature other worlds, alien creatures, and
empowerment nonprofit, Sand fantastical machines. The exhibit digs into our fascination with horror
Sisters Los Angeles, Inc., by and how a congressional investigation in 1954 led to the Comics Code
Marvel Studios’ Executive Vice and its limitations on comic book content. It also looks at America’s
President Victoria Alonso. It was enthusiasm for westerns as a genre across all entertainment mediums.
offered in February 2020 in a raffle by Additionally, sports are seen through the lens of comic books,
the organization (now known as Girl cartoons, and other artistic venues. Pop culture collectibles within music,
Captain America’s shield, screen-used Powerful) and brought posters, magazines, and more, featuring the likes of Elvis Presley, Janis
for close-up shots with actor Chris Evans in $155,801 through ticket sales. Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Monkees, and The Jackson 5 on display.
Avengers: Endgame, is up for bid at Hake’s It has been authenticated by The Geppi Gems exhibit is hosted in the Library’s Thomas Jefferson
Auctions, closing November 2-3, 2021. Marvel Studios’ Prop Master Building, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC, which is
Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions Russell Bobbitt and comes with open to visitors Thur-Sat- from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Timed tickets are
a custom-crafted plaque, as well required for entry. Additional information for visitors is available on
as a letter of authenticity, both signed by Bobbitt. the Library’s main page, www.loc.gov, and information about the
“This is an absolute must-have for any serious Captain America fan exhibit can be found at www.loc.gov/ exhibitions/geppi-gems/ about-
and a rare opportunity to obtain a key screen-used MCU hero prop. this-exhibition/ superheroes/.
One of the most important Marvel film props to ever come to auction, Geppi Gems is on view in the Graphic Arts Gallery through March
both in terms of its iconic stature and its ironclad provenance,” Hake’s 2022. A second
President Alex Winter said. rotation, with a
completely different
Geppi Gems at the Library of Congress selection, is intended
On May 30, 2018, Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, to open in the spring
announced that Steve Geppi, Chairman of Geppi Family Enterprises, of 2022.
had made a multi-million-dollar donation of more than 3,000 items from
his personal collection of comic book and pop culture items to The
Library of Congress. The first display of select pieces from the Stephen A.
Geppi Collection of Comics and Graphic Arts debuted at the Library of J.C. Vaughn is Vice-President of
Congress on November 6, 2018, and received media coverage that Publishing for Gemstone Publishing.
spanned from the New York Times to comics industry websites. Gemstone’s Amanda Sheriff contributed
Now the Library of Congress has staged a new exhibit, Geppi to this column.

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