God's Smuggler #No. 1
Spire Christian Comics • God's Smuggler (Spire Christian Comics)
Writer
Al Hartley
Interior Artist
Al Hartley
Cover Artist
Al Hartley
Publication Date
1972
Cover Variant
Regular (35 cent cover price edition)
Printing
Estimated First Printing (based on publisher history for this edition)
Comic Description
A biographical comic adaptation of the 1967 book by Brother Andrew (Andrew van der Bijl). The story follows his real-life missions smuggling Bibles into Communist-controlled countries behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Good/Very Good (CGC 3.0)
Condition Details
Significant spine stress and color-breaking ticks throughout the left edge; heavy creasing on the bottom right corner spanning several inches; extensive surface scuffing and white 'pitting' marks on the black background area; blunted corners; visible edge wear and minor chipping along the periphery.
Estimated Market Value
$10 - $25 (Raw) / $60+ (Graded 3.0)
Recent Sales
Comparable raw copies in mid-low grade typically sell for $10 to $20 on secondary markets. High-grade (CGC 9.0+) copies can reach $150+, but this specimen is low-grade.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for grading. The cost of grading services and shipping exceeds the fair market value of the comic in this specific condition. It is a common copy with significant surface and structural wear.
Notable Features
First comic appearance of Brother Andrew; published by Spire Christian Comics under the direction of Archie artist Al Hartley; distributed by Fawcett; features Cold War religious themes.
Authentication Notes
Authentic vintage newsprint and gloss; features correct Spire Christian Comics logo and 35c price point. Print registration aligns with 1970s evangelical comic production standards.