A remarkable discovery in a deceased mother's attic has resulted in the sale of a perfectly preserved Superman #1 comic for a staggering $9.12 million (£6.97 million), setting a new world record for the most expensive comic book ever sold.
The Incredible Attic Discovery
Three brothers, now in their 50s and 60s, made the extraordinary find while clearing out their mother's Northern California home after her passing. Tucked away in the recess of the attic, hidden beneath a pile of newspapers in a cardboard box, they discovered six vintage comics that had been 'untouched for decades'.
The collection included the crown jewel - the first ever issue of Superman dating back to June 1939, originally sold for just 10 cents. Their mother had always told them she possessed an expensive comics collection but had never shown them the actual items.
'Their mom had always told them she had an expensive comics collection but never showed them,' revealed Heritage Auctions vice-president Lon Allen. 'It's a twist on the old "Mom threw away my comics" story.'
Record-Breaking Auction Achievement
The Dallas-based auction house Heritage Auctions classified the Superman #1 issue as the 'highest ever graded copy' after comic grading service CGC awarded it a remarkable 9.0 rating on their 10-point scale.
The comic's exceptional preservation was attributed to the cool Northern California climate. 'If it had been in an attic here in Texas, it would have been ruined,' Allen noted, highlighting how the environmental conditions played a crucial role in maintaining the comic's mint condition.
The record-breaking sale occurred on Thursday, November 23, 2023, when the comic fetched its multi-million pound price, surpassing the previous record held by Action Comics No. 1, which had sold for $6 million (£4.59 million) last year.
Historical Significance and Collection Details
The discovered Superman #1 represents a significant piece of comic book history as the first time the iconic character appeared in his own dedicated comic. The original print run produced approximately half a million copies, though few survive in such pristine condition today.
Alongside the Superman #1, the brothers discovered five early issues of 'Action Comics', the anthology from National Allied Publications that first introduced the Superman character to the world in 1938.
The collection had been purchased by their mother and her brother between the Great Depression and World War II, then carefully preserved and eventually forgotten as life's challenges took priority. The youngest brother explained how 'the demands of everyday survival took centre stage, and the box of comics, once set aside with care and intention, was forgotten. Until last Christmas.'
The brothers, who have chosen to remain anonymous, contacted Heritage Auctions about their discovery, prompting Allen to personally visit them in San Francisco within days to verify the extraordinary find.
This sale now places Superman #1 at the top of the most valuable comics ever sold, with another Superman No. 1 copy ranking third at $5.3 million (£4.05 million) from a private sale in 2022.
