Collector enthusiasm for the works Gil Elvgren remains undiminished as the great illustrators' work dominated the top 10 lots of Heritage Auctions' $3,000,000+ March 3 Illustration Art Signature ® Auction, led by Vision of Beauty (Unveiling), 1947 (Realized: $140,500) and Let's Eat Out, 1967 (Realized: $104,500), both of which come from the continually prolific Estate of Charles Martignette. All prices include Buyer's Premium.

The auction, featuring 872 lots overall, finished with a final sell-through rate of 98% quantity.

"Fully seven of the top 10 lots in the auction were from Elvgren," said Ed Jaster, Senior Vice President at Heritage. "His inexhaustible well of talent continues to be the benchmark by which most every other illustrator is measured. It's as clear as it's ever been that collector's consider him the Gold Standard, with every painting bearing his name well-exceeding pre-auction estimates."

The other Elvgren highlights of the auction include "I Hope the Boys Don't Draw the Straws Tonight," Brown and Bigelow calendar illustration, 1946 (realized: $68,500); The Winner (A Fair Catch), Brown and Bigelow calendar illustration, 1957 (Realized: $59,375); On the Fence, 1959 (Realized: $59,375); "Everything Seems Awfully High Around Here!" 1946 (Realized: $54,688) and Pin-up in Front of the Fireplace (Realized: $43,750).

A world record price was established for an original Charles Addams New Yorker Magazine cartoon as his Sad Movie illustration, March 23, 1946 — one of the most famous of all Addams Family cartoons, soared amongst spirited bidding to the final price realized of $40,625, demolishing its pre-auction estimate of $12,000+ as well as the previous record of $16,100 for his art at auction.

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