A recurring theme in recent years is seeing copies of Action Comics #1, featuring the debut of Superman, routinely set sales records at auctions, and that theme continues this year, as a copy of Action Comics #1 has sold at Heritage Auctions’ ongoing Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction for a new record of $6 million. That record eclipses the old record of $5.3 million, set just two years ago in a private sale of Superman #1.
Amazingly, this copy is the same grade as a copy of Action Comics #1 that sold for $3.25 million just three years ago, showing just how exponentially the prices have been increasing for these rarest superhero collectibles. The most amazing thing about these prices is the fact that there exist copies of Action Comics #1 (and Detective Comics #27, which you rarely even SEE at auction) that are in BETTER shape than the copy that just sold for $6 million. They just haven’t been sold in decades, way before the prices skyrocketed..
Historic Death of Superman Preview Artwork Being Sold at Auction
The original artwork for the preview magazine cover that kicked off the frenzied media coverage of the Death of Superman is being auctioned off
What grade was this copy of Action Comics #1, the debut of Superman?
This copy of Action Comics #1 was graded by Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) as being an 8.5. It is from a Kansas City collection. Only two copies of Action Comics #1 have ever graded higher than 8.5 (but, again, there are some ungraded copies that haven’t exchanged hands in decades).
The demand for Action Comics #1 is so high that Heritage recently sold a 0.5 condition copy of the comic book for $408,000! CGC estimates that there are roughly 100 copies of Action Comics #1 in the world PERIOD, let alone a condition that is considered “Very Fine,” like the one that went for $6 million on Thursday.
The Most-Reprinted New Yorker Cartoon Sets Sales Record for Single Panel Comic
A 1993 Peter Steiner New Yorker cartoon about a dog using the internet, the most reprinted cartoon ever, has set a single-panel auction record
What other notable comic books sold at the auction?
A letter from Jerry Siegel to another artist, discussing possibly taking over the character from Joe Shuster in 1934, sold for $264,000. A new record was also set by a RESTORED copy of Action Comics #1, which sold for $576,000.
Heritage Auctions Vice President Barry Sandoval was quoted in Heritage’s press release as noting, “The first three lots today would be tough to beat when it comes to exciting bidding wars – the all-time record for a comic book, bracketed by two absolutely stunning surprises. We’re thrilled to have made history today with an auction that’s rich in history, encompassing everything from a pre-Golden Age Superman artifact to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We couldn’t be happier for our consignors and those winning bidders who acquired items without equal.”
A CGC 9.6 copy of Avengers #1 sold for $432,000, while a CGC 9.6 copy of Sensation Comics #1 (Wonder Woman’s second appearance) went for $420,000.
The auction continues through this weekend.
Source: Heritage Auctions
