Superman No. 1 Comic Fetches Record $9.12M at Auction
An exceptional copy of Superman No. 1, dating back to 1939, has recently set a record by fetching $9.12 million at auction. This sale marks the highest price ever paid for a comic book. The auction took place at Heritage Auctions and has made headlines worldwide.
Details of the Record-Breaking Auction
The first-edition comic of Superman No. 1 is renowned for its pristine condition. It is graded 9.0 on a 10-point scale by the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC). This rating represents the highest quality known for any edition of this iconic comic.
Significance of Superman No. 1
Superman No. 1 is considered among the “big three” comics alongside Action Comics No. 1 and Detective Comics No. 27. It is important for being the first comic book to feature a character with an individual title. Initially, 500,000 copies were printed, followed by subsequent print runs of 250,000 and 150,000. However, intact copies are exceedingly rare today due to readers historically cutting the cover to use as posters.
Unique Find in Northern California
The record-setting comic was uncovered by three brothers in northern California. They found it while sorting through their late mother’s attic. The comic had been secured in a cardboard box, resting under a stack of old newspapers. Their mother purchased the comic as a child in San Francisco, expressing over the years that she owned rare comics, yet they were never located until now.
Market Impact and Future of Comic Collecting
The sale of Superman No. 1 could signify a shift in the comic collecting market. Jim Halperin, Co-Founder of Heritage Auctions, stated that this record may represent the beginnings of comic books becoming significant collectibles in the auction world. As the historical importance of such items becomes more apparent, collectors around the globe are increasingly drawn to them.
- Record Sale: $9.12 million
- Year of Publication: 1939
- CGC Grade: 9.0
- Print History: Originally 500,000 copies
- Condition Rarity: One of seven known copies with a CGC grade of 6.0 or higher
As comic book values continue to climb, the industry watches closely to see how this sale influences future auction trends.
