Classics Illustrated (Gilberton)

    (Gilberton, 1941-1971, 2004-2006)
โ„ข and ยฉ Gilberton

In 1941, Albert E. Kanter introduced Classic Comics, later renamed Classics Illustrated. Kanterโ€™s idea was to use the comic form to make great literature accessible to readers who might never otherwise make the effort. Whether his idea represented a watering down of the classics, as some critics claimed, it was an amazingly popular move. Each of the 169 comics in this series were reprinted numerous times, with 23rd printings being relatively common. Their popularity even extended to schools, where the colorful, well-written adaptations must have seemed a welcome alternative to reading lengthy texts.

Kanter later introduced Classics Illustrated Junior, adapting childrenโ€™s literature for younger readers. The series also gave rise to numerous imitations over the years.

For collectors, their popularity is particularly problematic, since the various reprintings were not clearly marked. The best clue to figuring out which printing you had of a given issue was to note the highest reorder number (HRN) from the series order form on the back of each comic.

Weโ€™d like to extend our thanks to Classics Illustrated authority Dan Malan, who has painstakingly determined the distinguishing characteristics of each printing, and who has generously allowed us to use this information here. If youโ€™d like to learn more about this remarkable series, we would encourage you to refer to his definitive โ€œThe Complete Guide to Classics Collectibles,โ€ available in four volumes from:

Malan Classical Enterprises
7519 Lindbergh Drive
St. Louis, MO 63117
(314) 781-2319

In later years, several other publishers would reprint issues of this series, usually with new covers or coloring.
Jump to issue:
Page 1 of 8 Next ยป
  • 1-7
    First edition with Classics Illustrated title
    Apr 1947
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Malcolm Kildale
    HRN #36; 64 pages
    1 copy for $94.99
  • 1-8
    Line-drawin cover by Malcolm Kildale
    Apr 1949
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Malcolm Kildale
    HRN #60; 64 pages; April-June 1949
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 1-10
    Line-drawin cover by Malcolm Kildale
    Dec 1950
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Malcolm Kildale
    HRN #78; 64 pages
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 1-11
    Line-drawin cover by Malcolm Kildale
    Mar 1952
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Malcolm Kildale
    HRN #93; 64 pages
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 1-12
    Line-drawin cover by Malcolm Kildale
    Dec 1953
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Malcolm Kildale
    HRN #114; 64 pages
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 1-13
    New painted cover
    Sep 1956
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Malcolm Kildale
    HRN #134; 64 pages
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 1-14
    Painted cover
    Mar 1958
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Malcolm Kildale
    HRN #143; 64 pages
    1 copy for $7.98
  • 1-16
    Painted cover
    Jun 1961
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: George Evans
    HRN #149; 48 pages; Summer-Fall 1961
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 1-18
    Painted cover
    Apr 1964
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: George Evans
    HRN #167; 48 pages
    1 copy for $3.25
  • 1-21
    Painted cover
    Nov 1967
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: George Evans
    HRN #166; 48 pages
    1 copy for $7.98
  • 1-22
    Painted cover; Stiff covers
    Mar 1969
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: George Evans
    HRN #166; 48 pages; Spring 1969
    1 copy for $7.98
  • 1-23
    Painted cover; Stiff covers
    Mar 1971
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: George Evans
    HRN #169; 48 pages; Spring 1971
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 2-8
    Line-drawing cover by Malcolm Kildale
    Apr 1949
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Edd Ashe, Ray Ramsey
    HRN #60; 64 pages; April-June 1949
    2 copies from $2.06
  • 2-11
    Line-drawing cover by Malcolm Kildale
    Nov 1951
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Edd Ashe, Ray Ramsey
    HRN #89; 64 pages
    1 copy for $7.99
  • 2-12
    Line-drawing cover by Malcolm Kildale
    Apr 1953
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Edd Ashe, Ray Ramsey
    HRN #106; 64 pages
    1 copy for $7.99
  • 2-13
    Line-drawing cover by Malcolm Kildale
    Jul 1954
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Edd Ashe, Ray Ramsey
    HRN #121; 64 pages
    1 copy for $5.99
  • 2-14
    New painted cover
    Jan 1957
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #136; 48 pages; New interior art
    1 copy for $4.99
  • 2-15
    Painted cover
    Jan 1958
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #142; 48 pages
    1 copy for $3.99
  • 2-16
    Painted cover
    Nov 1959
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #153; 48 pages
    1 copy for $4.99
  • 2-17
    Painted cover
    Jun 1961
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #149; 48 pages; Summer-Fall 1961
    2 copies from $3.98
  • 2-18
    Painted cover
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #167; 48 pages; Spring-Summer 1963
    1 copy for $5.99
  • 2-20
    Painted cover
    Jan 1965
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #167; 48 pages
    1 copy for $6.50
  • 2-21
    Painted cover
    Mar 1966
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #167; 48 pages
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 2-24
    Painted cover; Stiff covers
    Dec 1969
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #169; 48 pages; Winter 1969
    1 copy for $3.98
  • 2-25
    Painted cover; Stiff covers
    Dec 1971
    W: Walter Scott  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #169; 48 pages; Winter 1971
    1 copy for $5.98
  • 3-12
    Sep 1951
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Ray Ramsey, Allen Simon, Vivian Lipman
    HRN #87; 64 pages
    1 copy for $5.99
  • 3-13
    Nov 1953
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Ray Ramsey, Allen Simon, Vivian Lipman
    HRN #113; 64 pages
    1 copy for $5.98
  • 3-14
    New painted cover
    Nov 1956
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Lou Cameron
    HRN #135; 48 pages; New interior art
    1 copy for $6.98
  • 3-18
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Lou Cameron
    HRN #167; 48 pages; Spring-Summer 1963
    2 copies from $2.87
  • 3-22
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Lou Cameron
    HRN #166; 48 pages; ca. 1968
    1 copy for $4.98
  • 3-23
    Stiff covers
    Dec 1969
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Alexandre Dumas  ·  A: Lou Cameron
    HRN #169; 48 pages; Winter 1969
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 4-8
    Line-drawing cover by Ray Ramsey
    Apr 1949
    W: James Cooper  ·  A: Ray Ramsey
    HRN #60; 64 pages; April-June 1949
    2 copies from $1.64
  • 4-9
    Line-drawing cover by Ray Ramsey
    Oct 1949
    W: James Cooper  ·  A: Ray Ramsey
    HRN #64; 64 pages
    1 copy for $7.99
  • 4-11
    Line-drawing cover by Ray Ramsey
    Nov 1951
    Cover: $0.15
    W: James Cooper  ·  A: Ray Ramsey
    HRN #89; 64 pages
    1 copy for $5.99
  • 4-12
    Line-drawing cover by Ray Ramsey
    Mar 1954
    Cover: $0.15
    W: James Cooper  ·  A: Ray Ramsey
    HRN #117; 64 pages
    1 copy for $5.99
  • 4-13
    Painted cover
    Nov 1956
    Cover: $0.15
    W: James Cooper  ·  A: Ray Ramsey
    HRN #135; 64 pages
    1 copy for $6.98
  • 4-14
    Painted cover
    Nov 1957
    Cover: $0.15
    W: James Cooper  ·  A: Ray Ramsey
    HRN #141; 64 pages
    1 copy for $4.98
  • 4-15
    Painted cover
    May 1959
    Cover: $0.15
    W: James Cooper  ·  A: John Severin, L.B. Cole
    HRN #150; 48 pages
    1 copy for $4.98
  • 4-18
    Painted cover
    Jun 1964
    Cover: $0.15
    W: James Cooper  ·  A: John Severin, L.B. Cole
    HRN #167; 48 pages
    1 copy for $2.66
  • 4-19
    Painted cover
    Aug 1965
    Cover: $0.15
    W: James Cooper  ·  A: John Severin, L.B. Cole
    HRN #167; 48 pages
    1 copy for $2.66
  • 4-21
    Painted cover
    Cover: $0.25
    W: James Cooper  ·  A: John Severin, L.B. Cole
    HRN #166; 48 pages; R/67; ca. 1967
    1 copy for $7.99
  • 4-22
    Painted cover; Stiff covers
    Mar 1969
    Cover: $0.25
    W: James Cooper  ·  A: John Severin, L.B. Cole
    HRN #169; 48 pages; Spring 1969
    1 copy for $6.98
  • 5-12
    Sep 1951
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Herman Melville  ·  A: Louis Zansky, Harvey Kurtzman
    HRN #87; 64 pages
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 5-13
    Apr 1954
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Herman Melville  ·  A: Louis Zansky, Harvey Kurtzman
    HRN #118; 64 pages
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 5-15
    Painted cover
    May 1957
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Herman Melville  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #138; 48 pages
    1 copy for $7.98
  • 5-18
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Herman Melville  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #167; 48 pages; Spring-Summer 1963
    1 copy for $5.98
  • 5-22
    Painted cover
    Sep 1967
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Herman Melville  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #166; 48 pages
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 5-23
    New painted cover by Norman Nodel; Stiff covers
    Dec 1969
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Herman Melville  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #166; 48 pages; Winter 1969
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 5-24
    Painted cover by Norman Nodel
    Dec 1971
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Herman Melville  ·  A: Norman Nodel
    HRN #169; 48 pages; Winter 1971
    1 copy for $6.98
  • 6-6
    Line-drawn cover by Stanley Maxwell Zuckerberg
    Sep 1948
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell Zuckerberg
    HRN #51; 64 pages
    2 copies from $1.64
  • 6-8
    Line-drawn cover by Stanley Maxwell Zuckerberg
    Dec 1950
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell Zuckerberg
    HRN #78; 64 pages
    1 copy for $5.99
  • 6-9
    Line-drawn cover by Stanley Maxwell Zuckerberg
    Nov 1951
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell Zuckerberg
    HRN #89; 64 pages
    1 copy for $5.99
  • 6-10
    Line-drawn cover by Stanley Maxwell Zuckerberg
    Mar 1954
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell Zuckerberg
    HRN #117; 64 pages
    1 copy for $5.99
  • 6-11
    New painted cover
    May 1956
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Joe Orlando, George Evans
    HRN #132; 48 pages; New interior art
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 6-15
    Painted cover
    Nov 1959
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Joe Orlando, George Evans
    HRN #153; 48 pages
    1 copy for $6.98
  • 6-16
    Painted cover
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Joe Orlando, George Evans
    HRN #149; 48 pages; Summer-Fall 1961
    1 copy for $1.24
  • 6-18
    Painted cover
    Jun 1964
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Joe Orlando, George Evans
    HRN #167; 48 pages
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 6-19
    Painted cover
    Aug 1965
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Joe Orlando, George Evans
    HRN #167; 48 pages
    1 copy for $5.98
  • 6-20
    Painted cover
    May 1967
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Joe Orlando, George Evans
    HRN #166; 48 pages
    2 copies from $3.50
  • 6-21
    New painted cover by Norman Nodel
    Sep 1968
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Joe Orlando, George Evans
    HRN #166; 48 pages; Fall 1968
    1 copy for $5.98
  • 6-22
    Painted cover by Norman Nodel; Stiff cover by Norman Nodel
    Jun 1970
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Charles Dickens  ·  A: Joe Orlando, George Evans
    HRN #169; Summer 1970
    1 copy for $7.98
  • 7-5
    Cover: $0.15
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #22
    1 copy for $49.99
  • 7-7
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #51
    2 copies from $2.47
  • 7-8
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #64
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 7-9
    Cover: $0.15
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #78
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 7-10
    Cover: $0.15
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #97
    1 copy for $4.99
  • 7-11
    Cover: $0.15
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #106
    1 copy for $5.99
  • 7-15
    Cover: $0.15
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #143
    1 copy for $6.98
  • 7-16
    Cover: $0.15
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #153
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 7-18
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #167
    2 copies from $1.64
  • 7-20
    Mar 1965
    Cover: $0.15
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #167
    1 copy for $4.99
  • 7-21
    Jul 1966
    Cover: $0.15
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #167
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 7-22
    Dec 1967
    Cover: $0.15
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #16
    1 copy for $12.98
  • 7-23
    Jun 1969
    Cover: $0.25
    A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #169; Summer 1969
    1 copy for $10.00
  • 8-5
    A: Lillian Chestney
    HRN #51
    1 copy for $2.47
  • 8-7
    Cover: $0.15
    A: Lillian Chestney
    HRN #78
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 8-8
    A: Lillian Chestney
    HRN #164
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 9
    Slick & Glossy Cover
    Mar 1943
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Victor Hugo  ·  A: Rolland H. Livingston
    1 copy for $101.75
  • 9-6
    Sep 1948
    W: Victor Hugo  ·  A: Rolland H. Livingston
    HRN #51
    1 copy for $19.98
  • 9-7
    W: Victor Hugo  ·  A: Rolland H. Livingston
    HRN #71
    1 copy for $44.98
  • 9-8
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Victor Hugo  ·  A: Rolland H. Livingston
    HRN #87
    1 copy for $12.98
  • 9-9
    Mar 1961
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Victor Hugo  ·  A: Rolland H. Livingston
    HRN #161
    1 copy for $17.98
  • 9-12
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Victor Hugo  ·  A: Rolland H. Livingston
    R/68
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 10-6
    W: Daniel Defoe  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell
    HRN #51
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 10-8
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Daniel Defoe  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell
    HRN #78
    1 copy for $5.99
  • 10-10
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Daniel Defoe  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell
    HRN #114
    1 copy for $5.99
  • 10-11
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Daniel Defoe  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell
    HRN #130
    1 copy for $5.98
  • 10-12
    Sep 1957
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Daniel Defoe  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell
    HRN #140
    2 copies from $1.20
  • 10-18
    Jun 1966
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Daniel Defoe  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell
    HRN #167
    1 copy for $7.99
  • 10-19
    Sep 1968
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Daniel Defoe  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell
    HRN #166; Fall 1968
    1 copy for $6.98
  • 10-21
    Jun 1970
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Daniel Defoe  ·  A: Stanley Maxwell
    HRN #169; Summer 1970
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 11-5
    Aug 1953
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Miguel De Cervantes, Samuel H. Abramson  ·  A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #110
    1 copy for $6.98
  • 11-7
    Feb 1944
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Miguel De Cervantes, Samuel H. Abramson  ·  A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #165
    1 copy for $6.50
  • 11-9
    Nov 1965
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Miguel De Cervantes, Samuel H. Abramson  ·  A: Louis Zansky
    HRN #167
    1 copy for $6.98
  • 11-10
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Miguel De Cervantes, Samuel H. Abramson  ·  A: Louis Zansky
    R/1968
    1 copy for $9.98
  • 12-3
    Mar 1944
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Washington Irving  ·  A: Rolland H. Livingston
    HRN #20
    1 copy for $20.40
  • 12-9
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Washington Irving  ·  A: Rolland H. Livingston
    HRN #89
    1 copy for $14.99
  • 12-11
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Washington Irving  ·  A: Rolland H. Livingston
    HRN #132
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 12-14
    Cover: $0.15
    W: Washington Irving  ·  A: Rolland H. Livingston
    HRN #167
    1 copy for $2.06
  • 12-18
    Cover: $0.25
    W: Washington Irving  ·  A: Rolland H. Livingston
    R/1968
    1 copy for $9.98
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