In an event that has sent shockwaves through the world of collectibles, a pristine copy of the very first Superman comic book has been sold for a staggering $9.12 million at a Texas auction house. This monumental sale has set a new global record for the most expensive comic ever sold, a discovery born from a family's poignant journey through their late mother's belongings.
The Attic Discovery of a Lifetime
The extraordinary story began last year when three brothers, while preparing their deceased mother's San Francisco home for sale, decided to thoroughly search the basement for family heirlooms. Their mother had often spoken of a valuable comic book collection she had hidden away, but they had never laid eyes on it. During their search, buried under layers of old, brittle newspapers, dust, and cobwebs in a simple cardboard box, they made the find of a lifetime.
According to Lon Allen, the Vice President of Comics at Heritage Auctions, the box contained a handful of rare comics collected by their mother and her sibling on the eve of World War II. Among them was the crown jewel: a copy of 'Superman No. 1'. The brothers contacted the auction house, prompting Allen to fly to San Francisco earlier this year to inspect the find.
Authenticating a Pop Culture Icon
Experts were able to confirm the comic's elite status as part of the first printing of 500,000 copies back in 1939. A small, in-house advertisement within its pages was a key identifier. Allen estimates that fewer than 500 copies of this iconic issue exist today, making this find exceptionally rare.
What made this particular copy so special was its remarkable condition. Despite being stored for decades in an attic with no special protection, the cool Northern California climate had preserved it beautifully. The comic retained a firm spine, vibrant colours, and crisp corners. The professional comics grading company, CGC, awarded it a near-perfect rating of 9.0 out of 10, noting only the most minor signs of wear.
'It was just in an attic, sitting in a box, could have easily been thrown away, could’ve easily been destroyed in a thousand different ways,' Allen remarked, capturing the sheer improbability of the discovery. 'A lot of people got excited because it’s just every factor in collecting that you could possibly want all rolled into one.'
A New Record and a Family Legacy
The sale, which took place this month, easily surpassed the previous world record. That was set just last year when an 'Action Comics No. 1'—the comic that first introduced Superman—sold for $6 million. In 2022, another copy of Superman No. 1 had fetched $5.3 million.
The three brothers, who are in their 50s and 60s, and the buyer have chosen to remain anonymous due to the significant financial windfall. However, one of the brothers shared a heartfelt statement, reflecting that the sale was about more than just money. 'This isn’t simply a story about old paper and ink,' he said. 'This was never just about a collectible. This is a testament to memory, family and the unexpected ways the past finds its way back to us.'
This record-breaking auction underscores the immense cultural and financial value of vintage comics, especially those tied to a pioneering icon like Superman, the first superhero to capture the world's imagination.
