Three San Francisco brothers discovered America’s most expensive comic book ever sold—a pristine 1939 Superman No. 1—hidden in their late mother’s attic, shattering auction records at $9.12 million and proving that traditional American collectibles continue to outperform Wall Street’s volatile markets.
Story Highlights
- Superman No. 1 comic from 1939 sells for record-breaking $9.12 million at Heritage Auctions.
- Three brothers found the comic in their mother’s attic, purchased by their uncle during the Great Depression era.
- The comic received a rare 9 out of 10 condition rating despite being stored in a cardboard box for decades.
- Only seven known Superman No. 1 comics have condition ratings of 6 or higher.
Record-Breaking Discovery Proves American Heritage Value
Heritage Auctions conducted the sale of the 1939 Superman No. 1 comic, setting a new world record for a comic book. The comic surpassed the previous record for Action Comics No. 1, set in April 2024, at $6 million.
This remarkable sale demonstrates how authentic American cultural artifacts retain and increase their value, unlike the speculative investments pushed by financial elites.
A copy of the first Superman issue, discovered by three brothers cleaning out their late mother's attic, sold for $9.12 million this month at a Texas auction house, which says it is the most expensive comic book ever sold.
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Family Values Lead to Million-Dollar Fortune
The three unnamed brothers, aged in their 50s and 60s, discovered the comic collection while going through their late mother’s belongings in San Francisco.
Their uncle originally purchased the comics between the Great Depression and World War II, a testament to the foresight of previous generations who understood real value. Heritage Auctions Vice President Lon Allen noted the mother had always mentioned owning valuable comics but never revealed them to her sons.
Exceptional Preservation Despite Simple Storage
The Certified Guaranty Company awarded the Superman No. 1 comic a rare 9 out of 10 condition rating, making it their highest-graded comic ever. Remarkably, the comic survived for decades, protected only by old newspapers in a cardboard box, proving that careful stewardship trumps expensive storage systems. Only seven Superman No. 1 comics worldwide have achieved condition ratings of 6 or above, according to Heritage Auctions.
Superman’s Cultural Legacy Continues Strong
Superman No. 1 marked the Man of Steel’s first title appearance after debuting in Action Comics No. 1 in 1938. The comic’s cover promised readers “64 pages of action” featuring Superman’s heroic exploits, embodying the American values of justice and strength that resonated during wartime.
The buyer’s identity remains confidential, but this sale confirms that traditional American heroes and values command premium prices in today’s market.
