On November 14, Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas will auction 36 original illustrations from MAD magazine.

Estimated to bring in up to $400,000, the works include 12 classic covers, all featuring MAD mascot Alfred E. Neuman. "These covers made Alfred E. Neuman a celebrity," said Jared Green, vice president of business development at Heritage. "His notoriety is owed in large part to these featured artworks by Norman Mingo, Kelly Freas, Jack Davis, Bob Clarke, and Richard Williams."

The works are the last of many from the magazine's archives to hit the auction block. "These final 36 pieces were withheld from the three previous sales of the MAD archives at Heritage, Sotheby's, and Christie's," said MAD editor John Ficarra. "We wanted to hold onto them for as long as possible. Not as much as a tribute to the early history of MAD and to Bill (Gaines), but because these paintings were covering up quite a few holes in the walls. This auction leaves us no choice. Now we have to patch and paint."

The works will be on view at New York's Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art on Wednesday, October 29 from 10 to 5.