Robert M. Overstreet collected comic books, fossils, mineral specimens and Native American relics as a child, becoming a serious comic book collector in 1952. His first book project was a price guide on Native American arrowheads. Concurrently, the comic book market was booming, with prices rising every year. Since the relic market was stable, he shelved the arrowhead guide and began researching a comic book price guide.

After exhausting his extensive library of dealer lists, letters and fanzines to create the initial listings for his book, he began soliciting cooperation from the leading comic experts, collectors and top dealers who provided even more information. Overstreet’s very first book, The Comic Book Price Guide was published in 1970.

The first of its kind, it was quickly accepted and used as the only authoritative reference and pricing tool in the market. It was also the first price guide to provide information about where to buy and sell by allowing advertising to dealers and collectors. With its valuable information now available to anyone, the market began to grow rapidly.

The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide achieved national distribution in 1976, establishing it as the top reference tool and was regularly used by dealers and collectors around the world. Spurred by a 1980 Associated Press news story, a huge demand for The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide came to be, necessitating an additional 10,000 copies being reprinted late in the year. Overstreet was rapidly becoming a household name.

During the 1970s and 1980s Overstreet branched out, publishing multiple volumes of The Overstreet Indian Arrowheads Identification and Price Guide as well as three volumes of The Overstreet Premium Ring Price Guide. This auction features a number of rings from The Robert M. Overstreet Ring Collection, many of them being photo examples from his guides.

The 1936 Little Orphan Annie birthstone rings is the only known complete set of 12 that were originally issued individually by Ovaltine. They come with the original paper insert that explains how the rings could be obtained with the seal from an Ovaltine can, in addition to the design of the ring and list of birthstones and other birthday month info.

The 1934 Operator 5 Pulp magazine rare premium ring was offered briefly during the introductory year of the Popular Publications pulp titled Secret Service Operator #5. Constructed of metal with a non-adjustable band, it has silver luster on the sides, while the top has a black and white enamel with a skull.

The 1941 Valric of the Vikings Kellogg’s premium ring is exceedingly rare and in high grade. Issued by Kellogg’s All-Rye Flakes, it was released in extremely limited distribution only in California. The ring is brass with adjustable bands and features Valric wearing a winged helmet along with a tiny brass rivet holding a small magnifying glass.

The 1948 Superman-Tim high grade ring which is the best example known in the US. The silvered brass ring features a raised image of Superman flying above the letters “ST” and the sides have secret code symbols from the club membership card that translate to “Good Luck.”

The Robert M. Overstreet Ring Collection includes a 1941 Little Orphan Annie very rare secret guard initial “A” high grade ring, 1939 Lone Ranger prototype secret compartment ring with photos, 1942 Lone Ranger rare meteorite premium ring, and 1934 The Spider pulp magazine premium ring. Additional rings offered at Hake’s include the 1930s Secret Agent look-around prototype ring by Robbins Co. one of two known, 1941 “The Shadow Blue Coal” rare Canadian premium ring complete with envelope and paper, and 1936 Buck Rogers Solar Scouts Repeller Ray ring high grade example.

Hake’s Auction #241 is open for bids now through July 30-31, 2024.