Dallas, Texas, USA: A rare copy of the original Superman No. 1 comic book has set a new sales record after being auctioned for $9.12 million in Texas. The issue, despite some natural wear from age, was found in remarkably good condition beneath layers of dust in an attic.
The comic resurfaced when three brothers were sorting through the belongings in the attic of their late mother’s home in San Francisco. Hidden inside a cardboard box under piles of old newspapers and cobwebs were several vintage comic books collected by their mother and her siblings during the World War II era.
According to the Associated Press, the brothers had always heard their mother mention a valuable comic book collection, but they never managed to locate it until they prepared the house for sale and decided to search every corner, including the basement. Lon Allen, vice president of comics at Heritage Auctions, explained that once the brothers contacted the auction house, he flew to San Francisco earlier this year to authenticate the copy of Superman No. 1 alongside other experts.
Allen remarked how incredible the discovery was, noting that the box could easily have been discarded or damaged over the years. Released in 1939 by Detective Comics Inc., the Superman No. 1 issue is now among the few surviving copies and is considered a prized item among collectors, especially because Superman was the first major superhero to become a cultural icon.
This sale has become the highest comic book auction of the year. For comparison, Action Comics No. 1—the comic that debuted Superman—sold for $6 million last year, while another Superman No. 1 fetched $5.3 million in 2022.
How Experts Confirmed the Comic’s Authenticity
A small promotional advertisement printed inside the comic helped the auction specialists verify that this copy came from the first batch of 500,000 copies ever produced. Fewer than 500 are believed to still exist today.
Heritage Auctions, headquartered in Dallas, noted that the comic remained well-preserved despite not being stored in special conditions. Northern California’s naturally cool climate helped maintain its vibrant colours, strong spine, and sharp corners. The grading company CGC rated it a 9.0 out of 10, an exceptionally high score for its age.
The brothers—now in their 50s and 60s—chose to keep their identities private because of the enormous value involved. The buyer of the issue also requested anonymity. In a statement shared through the auction house, one of the brothers said the discovery represents more than just a collectable, calling it “a reminder of family, memories, and the surprising ways the past can return.”
