MAD #No. 14
EC Comics (Entertainment Comics) • MAD Vol. 1 (Original comic book format)
Writer
Harvey Kurtzman
Interior Artist
Jack Davis, Wally Wood, Will Elder, John Severin
Cover Artist
Harvey Kurtzman (layout), Leonardo Da Vinci (original painting adaptation)
Publication Date
August 1954
Cover Variant
Regular
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Features classic EC humor satires. Includes 'Manduck the Magician' (Mandrake the Magician parody), 'Plastic Sam' (Plastic Man parody), and 'The Night Before Christmas'. This issue is from the original comic book run before MAD transitioned to a magazine format in issue #24.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Good (CGC 2.0) to Good/Very Good (CGC 3.0)
Condition Details
Moderate to heavy spine wear with splitting/softness, significant corner blunting (especially top left), multiple color-breaking creases across the cover, visible edge wear, and paper browning/tanning consistent with age.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $75 - $125; Graded (CGC 2.5): $150 - $200
Recent Sales
Recent mid-grade copies have sold for $250-$400; lower grade copies (2.0-3.0) typically range from $80 to $150 depending on eye appeal.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading unless for preservation purposes. The cost of grading plus shipping would likely consume a large portion of the potential value increase in this lower-grade condition.
Notable Features
Pre-magazine format EC comic. Iconic Mona Lisa parody cover. Part of the 'Humor in a Jugular Vein' era of EC. Features art by the legendary EC 'Usual Gang of Idiots' before they were formally known by that title.
Authentication Notes
Appears to be an original 1954 EC edition based on paper oxidation and 10-cent cover price. Colors show natural aging, and the iconic 'EC' seal is sharp and correctly positioned.