Rare 1939 ‘Superman No. 1′ Discovered in San Francisco Attic Sells for Record $9.12 Million
A remarkably well-preserved copy of Superman no. 1, the comic book that launched a cultural icon, has shattered auction records, selling for $9.12 million last Thursday through Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas.the sale marks the highest price ever paid for a single comic book, eclipsing the previous record of $5.3 million set in 2022.
The comic’s unusual journey began last Christmas when three brothers, sifting through their late mother’s belongings in a San Francisco attic, unearthed the 1939 issue. Their mother and her sibling originally purchased the comic, along with other rare titles, in San Francisco when she was nine years old.
The book’s pristine condition-earning a 9-out-of-10 rating from the certified Guaranty Company-is attributed to the Bay Area’s temperate climate. Its spine remains intact, corners are crisp, and colors are vivid.
“‘Superman No. 1’ is a milestone in pop culture history,” stated Lon Allen, vice president of Heritage Auctions. “This copy is not only in unprecedented condition, but it has a movie-worthy story behind it.”
The brothers, who have chosen to remain anonymous, recalled their mother occasionally mentioning a box of old comics. They only located it while preparing their childhood home for sale. After contacting Heritage Auctions,Allen traveled to San Francisco to authenticate and appraise the find.
“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 told the Associated Press. “A lot of people got excited because it’s just every factor in collecting that you could possibly want all rolled into one.”
One of the brothers shared in a statement from heritage Auctions, “This isn’t simply a story about old paper and ink. 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.”
Fans of comic books can attend the annual FanExpo convention in San Francisco this Friday through Sunday.
