Page 40 - september-23

What is considered the “Holy Grail” among Harvey collectors? focus less on back issues and more on whatever is currently popular,
Most of my fellow Harvey collectors are focused on one character, so I generally don’t have much luck with them. My plan is to start
but most Harvey characters did not get a lot of merchandise. The two checking out ephemera and antiques shows, which is why I started
notable exceptions are Casper, for whom several items are coveted, and reading the Journal of Antiques. I also occasionally bid in online
Richie Rich, who got a lot of merchandise but not much that is rare. I auctions if an item catches my eye and the starting bid seems reasonable.
know it took me a while to find the Richie Rich clock and any of the
plastic belts Harvey had made and advertised in their comics. I posted How, if at all, has the market value for what you
pictures of the Richie Rich belt that a fellow collector sent me on my collect changed?
website, and mentioned I was looking for one myself. Several years The comic collection has gone up in value a little, but not as much
later, I had an antiques seller contact me and ask if I still needed one. as would be expected because most of my comics are low-grade reader
Gave me a fair price on it too! copies. The demand is for high-grade copies, and the value for those has
gone up significantly.
What is the “one” that got away? For the merchandise, there has been little change in value. One of
My current “Holy Grail” is a Richie Rich slot machine, made by the things I like about collecting Harvey Comics merchandise is that it
Bally. The last one I saw for sale was local pickup only and the seller is a very affordable hobby. Items I buy are typically less than $20,
lived about 1,500 miles away, so I passed on it. Slot machines are large before taxes and shipping charges.
and weigh over 300 pounds, so you don’t just put one in the trunk of
your car! What is your plan/vision for the future of your collection?
Several years ago, I moved from only buying Richie Rich merchan-
What is your favorite item from the collection and why? dise to all Harvey characters. I am now focusing on Harvey Comics
Without a doubt, my favorite item is my comic book spinner rack. corporate ephemera and one-of-a-kind items, such as prototypes. I am
It is the style you would see in convenience stores, with four sides with also becoming interested in store displays and advertising pieces. I plan
a metal sign at the top showing Richie Rich, Spider-Man, Archie, and to continue growing the collection, to put on displays wherever I can,
Superman. I know it does not count as merchandise, but I like it and to continue to remind the public about Harvey Comics.
because it reminds me of my childhood when I bought new issues off a
similar rack at my local 7-Eleven. I also like that it shows how popular What story does your collection, in its entirety, tell?
Harvey Comics were at the time. To the public, it is the story of the rise and fall of one of the earliest,
biggest comic book publishers in the United States, and the characters
What are your favorite places to look for new items for your they published. It is also the story of how merchandising changed over
collection, and how, if at all, has finding items for your the years, from pinback buttons to dolls to rack toys and back to dolls.
collection changed? But to me personally, it is a story of growth, maturing as a collector,
My shopping habits have changed over the years. The comic books and learning what that means. That’s the best story of all!
were almost all from brick-and-mortar comic bookstores. Most of the
merchandise collection is from eBay, but I have gone to comic conven- To learn more about Harvey Comics and to see Jonathan’s collection,
tions and toy shows, as well. Comic conventions these days seem to visit www.harveymercheum.com

38 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles