Wagon Train #1114
Original comic book/periodical, softcover saddle-stitched format • Dell Publishing Co.; cover features photography of Ward Bond and Robert Horton; interior art typically by Alberto Giolitti (uncredited)
Style & Movement
Mid-century American Commercial Art / Golden Age/Silver Age Cowboy Western
Medium & Technique
Four-color offset lithography on newsprint and semi-glossy cover stock; photography-based cover (photo-cover)
Creation Period
July-September 1960
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 7 x 10 inches; standard American comic book portrait format
Subject Description
Promotional tie-in for the NBC/ABC television series 'Wagon Train'. The cover features actors Ward Bond (as Major Seth Adams) pointing authoritatively and Robert Horton (as Flint McCullough). The narrative involves a plot where Major Adams must locate a thief stealing food from the caravan.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good (approx. 2.0 to 3.0 on the CGC scale); visible spine stress, corner blunting, and creases
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 - $25.00 USD
Auction Estimate
$5.00 - $15.00 USD (higher if professionally graded/slabbed)
Provenance History
Mass-produced commercial publication; likely held in a private collection. Features a faint 'JUN 2' date stamp on the cover, typical of newsstand returns or arrival tracking.
Art Historical Significance
A representative example of the 1950s-60s 'Television Tie-in' boom in publishing. It reflects the immense popularity of the Western genre in American Cold War-era pop culture and Dell's dominance in the licensed comics market.
Notable Features
Features the 'Dell: A Pledge of Quality' logo; 'Still 10c' price point; photo-cover variant depicting the show's original lead stars before Ward Bond's death in late 1960.
Condition Issues
Visible edge wear, significant spine roll, color breaking creases on the right edge, foxing/light staining on the white borders, and yellowing of the newsprint paper due to oxidation.
Conservation Recommendations
Store in an acid-free archival Mylar bag with a buffered backing board. Keep in a temperature-controlled environment away from UV light to prevent further paper embrittlement.