STAN LEE's

Back in 1998 SNP actually wrote to Stan Lee at Marvel Comics to ask some questions about Gottlieb's Spider-man pinball. One of the questions I asked him back then was if he owned a Spidey pin himself: the answer that came back was that he'd had to buy his own; a game found in an antique shop. Apparently Marvel had received a game as part of the licensing deal but this one had been "played to death" in the Marvel offices and then raffled off to an employee.

A few years later when I found out by chance than Stan Lee was auctioning his Spidey pin! It was announced in a press release issued by Heritage Comics Auctions on 19 March 2003 - you can see it here.

"We're pleased to offer what may be the most unusual item from Stan's collection, an actual, original Spider-Man pinball machine from the early 1980s." said HCA's Director of Auctions, John Petty, in the release.

Stan Lee himself wrote this for the auction, "The Spider-Man pinball machine being offered by Heritage Comics Auctions is my personal property. I was assured when I acquired it that it was one of the very first Spider-Man pinball machines ever made. I've had it for decades, and throughout that time it has resided in my office, which, nomad that I am, has been relocated often. Regardless of my office's location, this machine went with me and has never been in storage. Over the years, I have spent countless frustrating yet perversely enjoyable hours attempting to play on it, as have numerous colleagues, friends and business associates (some quite famous, though a combination of modesty, shame and my legendary bad memory prevents me from divulging their names here) during their unrelenting pilgrimages to my office. In fact, I think many of these scions of arts and industry came over JUST to beat me up at pinball. I hope its new owner will be a better player than I am."

The game was auctioned at HCA's July 16-20 auction in San Diego and sold for a whopping $9'500, but then the letter from Stan Lee was included with the machine!