What is the history of original comic artwork as a collectible?

• Comic artwork was considered a disposable medium by many during the Golden Age (1930s-1940s). Many pages were reused (recycled due to war rations on paper), stored deep in a warehouse, or ultimately discarded. A few people started collecting comic artwork in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1970s, the market began taking off when Bill Gaines began auctioning all the EC Comics pages that he had kept. The collectible market has grown in acceptance and popularity since then, highlighted by the featured auctions at Sotheby's beginning in 1991. Market size estimates vary widely, but an October 2008 Portfolio article states that it could be as large as $100MM annually.
  
  
• For a more in-depth history about comic artwork, Dark Horse founder Mike Richardson's Comics Between the Panels is a good resource.