A seemingly ordinary family cleanup has unexpectedly unearthed a legendary piece of comic book history. Reportedly, three brothers in Northern California discovered six treasured vintage comic books in their attic while clearing out their late mother's belongings, including a 1939 edition of "Superman" #1.
After being certified by the American CGC (Certified Guaranty Company), the book received an exceptional 9.0 grade (near-mint) with "off-white to white" pages. This makes it the best-preserved copy known to exist and is highly anticipated to set a new record at an upcoming auction.
This historic comic is slated for Heritage Auctions' "Comic Books Signature®" auction, running from November 20-22, 2025. The auction house stated that it could challenge the title of "most expensive comic book ever." The current record is held by "Action Comics #1" CGC 8.5, which sold for a staggering $6 million in 2024. The previous high-selling copy of "Superman #1" (CGC 8.0) changed hands for $5.3 million in 2022.
The 9.0 graded copy being auctioned has been definitively identified as a first print. The key identifier lies in the back cover advertisement for "Action Comics #14," which reads "On Sale June 2" on first prints, while second and third prints state "Now On Sale." CGC only officially began noting print runs in their grading remarks in 2023, making the emergence of this first-print 9.0 particularly significant for collectors.
Jim Halperin, Co-Chairman of Heritage Auctions, stated that this is a rare, miraculous discovery in comic book history, describing a newly surfaced, perfectly preserved "Superman #1" as akin to the legendary Holy Grail. He added that this auction could rewrite market records.
The story, of course, adds a deeply human element. The three brothers revealed that their mother often mentioned her treasured comic collection but never showed it. Last Christmas, they found the dusty box beneath layers of newspapers and cobwebs in the attic. Besides "Superman #1," the box also contained five early issues of "Action Comics" (issues #9, #12, #15, #18, and #21), all in excellent condition.
Lon Allen, Vice President of the auction house, recalled that their mother's collection was in unbelievably good condition. He noted that if these books had been stored in a Texas attic, they would have been destroyed by the high temperatures. He characterized it as a classic "Mom didn't throw it away; she saved a legend for her kids" story.
Matt Nelson, President of CGC, added that the 9.0 graded "Superman #1" is not just a work of art but a historical testament. He stated that it represents the dawn of the Golden Age of comics and will be permanently enshrined in the pantheon of pop culture.
Auction experts estimate the comic's final sale price could exceed $6 million, potentially making it the world's most expensive comic book. This "Superman #1," unearthed from a dusty attic, is now poised to "fly to the skies" once more.
via： Bleeding Cool News