A new world record was set on Thursday for the highest amount ever paid at auction for a single comic book. During its current Comic Books Signature® Auction, Heritage Auctions’ auctioneer brought the gavel down on a near-perfect-condition copy of a 1938 Superman No. 1 for—wait for it—$9.12 million (with buyer’s premium)! Not bad for something found tucked away in an attic.
“Superman No. 1 is a milestone in pop culture history, and this copy is not only in unprecedented condition, but it has a movie-worthy story behind it,” says Heritage Auctions Vice President Lon Allen. “I was glad to see the price reflect that and am honored Heritage was entrusted with this iconic book.” The amount is millions more than any other single comic book has ever sold for, and it crushed the previous record of $6 million for a copy of Action Comics No. 1 sold in 2024.
The record-setting copy of Superman No. 1 Heritage Auctions / HA.com
The back cover of the record-setting copy of Superman No. 1 Heritage Auctions / HA.com
The comic book was found by three brothers while they sorting through the things in their late mother’s attic. Buried below piles of old newspapers, it was one of six comic books their mom had held on to since she and her brother purchased them between the Great Depression and World War II. “Their mom had always told them she had an expensive comics collection but never showed them,” says Lon. Talk about a family secret!
Now before you go rushing to the auction house with a stack of your childhood comic books that are currently stashed in your own parents’ attic, here’s what makes this specific one so special. Comic books are evaluated and valued on a grading system by CGC (other collectibles—like video games and sports cards—also have their own grading system), with 10 being the highest grade. This amazingly preserved copy of Superman No. 1 has a very rare grade of 9, due to its bright colors, sharp corners and tight spine. And just to emphasize how rare a find like this is—it is only one of less than 100 copies of the edition in any grade sold by Heritage Auctions.
To learn more about buying and selling comic books, and to see other top-selling titles, visit the Heritage Auctions site. And, if you’re looking to buy your own treasure, their current comic book auction continues through Saturday.
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