CGC-certified Pulps Get 'Spicy' in Heritage Auctions Sale

It might be cold outside, but things are getting spicy in Heritage Auctions’ A Forgotten World: Pulp Magazine Showcase Auction on February 20, 2025, featuring a large selection of classic pulp magazines graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®).

Characterized by their low-cost production on pulp paper, pulp magazines featured a wide range of genres, known for their lurid cover art, sensationalist storytelling and serialized content. Pulps played a significant role in shaping modern popular culture, introducing enduring characters like The Shadow and paving the way for the emergence of genres such as noir fiction and superhero comics.

Among the highlights of this auction are a Spicy Adventure Stories #22 graded CGC 6.5 (lot 75133), and a Spicy Mystery Stories #10 graded CGC 7.0 (lot 75142).

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Spicy Adventure Stories and Spicy Mystery Stories were pulp magazines published by Culture in the 1930s that captivated readers with their blend of lurid covers, sensational plots and risqué themes that pushed the boundaries of their time. These magazines delivered fast-paced tales of danger, intrigue and forbidden romance, often paired with provocative illustrations that promised thrills on every page. Today, collectors prize these pulps for their striking artwork, historical significance and the raw energy that defined an era of gritty, unrestrained storytelling.

Other CGC-certified pulps in this auction include:

• a Marvel Science Stories #1 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 75071)
• a Marvel Science Stories #4 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 75072)
• a Popular Detective #13 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 75103)
• a Saucy Movie Tales #13 graded CGC 6.5 (lot 75114)
• a Spicy Mystery Stories #5 graded CGC 6.5 (lot 75141)
• a Startling Stories #60 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 75150)
• a Weird Tales #21 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 75172)
• a Weird Tales #119 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 75176)
• a Weird Tales #131 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 75179)
• a Weird Tales #173 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 75184)

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of home media, including Betamax tapes, DVDs and Blu-ray discs.