Live Auction

LW: Asian Art, Jewelry & Estate Collections

Mon, Mar 30, 2026 06:00PM EDT
Lot 12

GOLD KEY COMICS WALT DISNEY'S DONALD DUCK - TEST HOPPER

Estimate: $10,000 - $30,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $10
$50 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

The comic is a classic Gold Key production featuring Donald Duck rendered in the bold, expressive mid-century style characteristic of Western Publishing. The cover illustration captures Donald mid-ejection from a test aircraft seat, frozen in a moment of comic chaos, while a series of narrative panels on the right side advance the humorous storyline. The printed cover price of 12 cents remains visible, and the overall color palette-dominated by a bright yellow ground with vivid reds and blues-retains strong visual impact. The book exhibits edge wear, spine stress, and surface handling consistent with age and period use, yet the cover imagery remains clear and visually appealing, presenting as an unrestored example with strong display qualities.

Note: Donald Duck is among Disney's most enduring and culturally significant characters, particularly within the comic medium, where his personality and narrative depth were expanded well beyond animation shorts. Gold Key Donald Duck comics represent a high point in American licensed comic publishing, blending mass-market appeal with consistent artistic quality. A signature reading 'Walt Disney' directly on a Donald Duck comic creates a compelling link between animation history and comic book culture. Because Disney himself was not directly involved in comic book production, comics bearing such signatures are highly specialized within collecting fields.