Rare 'Superman No. 1' comic book sells for $9.12 million!
What's the story
A rare edition of the original Superman comic, found by three brothers in their late mother's attic, has reportedly fetched an astounding $9.12 million at a Texas auction. This sale has set a new record for the most expensive comic book ever sold, according to Heritage Auctions. The comic was found in their deceased mother's San Francisco home last year, among other rare comics she had collected around World War II.
Discovery details
Brothers discovered comic book while cleaning mother's attic
The brothers had no idea about the valuable comic book collection their mother had until they decided to go through her belongings for heirlooms after her death. Lon Allen, vice president of comics at Heritage Auctions, said that the brothers found a box of comics and contacted the auction company. This led Allen to fly to San Francisco earlier this year to examine their copy of Superman No. 1 and get it appraised by experts.
Comic details
'Superman No. 1' comic book's rarity and condition
The Superman No. 1 comic book, published in 1939 by Detective Comics Inc., is one of the few known copies in existence and is reportedly in excellent condition. Allen noted that Superman was the first superhero to break into pop culture, significantly boosting this copy's value among collectors. He added that a small advertisement inside the comic helped experts confirm it as part of the original run of 5,00,000 Superman No. 1 copies ever printed.
Record details
Previous record for most expensive comic book
The earlier record for the world's most expensive comic book was set last year, when an Action Comics No. 1 - the anthology issue that first introduced Superman - sold for $6 million. In 2022, another Superman No. 1 sold for $5.3 million. Allen estimates that fewer than 500 copies of Superman No. 1 still exist, and this particular issue received a 9.0 out of 10 grade from CGC for its condition.
Privacy maintained
Brothers and buyer remain anonymous post-sale
The three brothers, who are in their 50s and 60s, have chosen to remain anonymous due to the financial windfall from the sale. The auction house also revealed that the identity of the buyer remains undisclosed. One brother said in a statement released by Heritage Auctions, "This isn't simply a story about old paper and ink... This is a testament to memory, family, and the unexpected ways the past finds its way back to us."