TARZAN #146

Cover shows vibrant, unfaded color with sharp print registration and glossy sheen consistent with a well-preserved copy. Corners appear sharp with no visible blunting, and the visible edges show no chipping or creases; the spine (partially obscured by the protective sleeve) shows no obvious stress lines or color breaks. No stains, tears, or writing are visible on the front cover. Interior pages and back cover were not assessed, and the plastic sleeve introduces some glare that could mask minor surface wear.

Tarzan #146 arrived in October 1964 as part of Western Publishing's Gold Key continuation of the Tarzan license, a run distinguished chiefly by the work of Russ Manning, who had taken over writing and art duties on the strip and brought a cleaner, more naturalistic adventure sensibility to Edgar Rice Burroughs' jungle hero. The issue is a solid example of Manning's tenure rather than a landmark chapter: no first appearances, deaths, or origin material distinguish it, and it is valued by collectors primarily as a representative piece of a well-regarded creative era on a long-running licensed title.

Market data for the issue is sparse, consistent with a mid-run adventure comic outside the handful of widely chased Tarzan issues. The certified population is thin across the board, with only a single sale recorded near 9.0 and a small cluster at 9.6, and the price gap between those points is steep and non-linear, typical of books where high-grade survivors are scarce but demand is not broad enough to sustain deep bidding at every grade step. Prices at the low and mid raw grades trail far behind the certified highs, reflecting a book that turns over cheaply in circulated condition and rewards value primarily in top-tier grade.

This is a book for Tarzan and Gold Key completists and for Russ Manning admirers building out his artistic run rather than for generalist Silver Age investors. Low- and mid-grade raw copies trade as inexpensive filler, readily available and unlikely to appreciate meaningfully; a pristine 9.8 slab, by contrast, would be a genuine rarity given the current census ceiling and would command a real premium from the small pool of grade-focused Tarzan specialists willing to pay for a top-of-census example.