Wyatt Earp, No. 11 (Dell Comics)
Comic book, periodical mass media • Published by Dell Publishing Co.; cover photo featuring Hugh O'Brian; interior art by Dan Spiegle.
Style & Movement
Mid-century American Illustration / Western Media Pop Culture
Medium & Technique
Four-color process lithography on newsprint with a heavier weight gloss paper cover.
Creation Period
December 1960 - February 1961
Dimensions & Format
Standard American Silver Age comic dimensions (approx. 10.25 x 6.75 inches); portrait format.
Subject Description
Promotional tie-in for the television series 'The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'. The cover features actor Hugh O'Brian in character as the famous marshal, framed by a foreground close-up of a hand reaching for a holster. The narrative explores law enforcement themes in Tombstone and the Mexican border.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair (graded roughly 3.0 to 4.0 on the Overstreet scale); shows significant spine wear, corner blunting, and color breaking creases.
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 - $25.00 USD
Auction Estimate
$5.00 - $15.00 USD
Provenance History
Mass-produced commercial retail; originally sold at newsstands for 10 cents. Visible 1960 copyright by Wyatt Earp Enterprises.
Art Historical Significance
Represents the height of the Western genre's dominance in American television and its cross-media expansion during the Silver Age of comics. It serves as a cultural artifact of 1950s-60s myth-making regarding the Wild West.
Notable Features
Features a photo cover rather than a drawn illustration, which was a common marketing tactic for Dell 'Four Color' and TV tie-in series to leverage celebrity appeal.
Condition Issues
Visible spine stress marks, chipping on the left edge, blunted corners, light surface scuffing, and minor oxidative yellowing of the newsprint pages.
Conservation Recommendations
Should be stored in a 2-mil archival mylar sleeve with an acid-free backing board in a temperature-controlled environment away from direct UV light.