Heritage Auctions has listed a rare 6.5 CGC rated 1938 copy of “Action Comics #1” to be sold at auction in November.
Action Comics #1 (DC, 1938) CGC Apparent FN+ 6.5 Slight/Moderate (A-2) Slightly brittle pages.
This is ground zero for all superhero comics. The first appearance of Superman, the quintessential superhero, has made the issue the most valuable comic published in any age. Fact is, it launched the Golden Age of Comics. Superman’s instant popularity spurred multiple additional titles in which the Man of Steel was featured. It’s rare enough that The Photo-Journal Guide to Comic Books rate it a “7” or “scarce,” and that’s corroborated by the number of copies that CGC has certified over the years in any condition.
Other first appearances in the issue include Lois Lane and Zatara. Co-creator Joe Shuster provided the iconic cover and story art. Two other Golden Age stalwarts, Bernard Baily and Fred Guardineer, also contributed interior art.
Heritage Auctions has offered just three other complete copies over the past five years, so if owning a copy is on your bucket list, don’t snooze and lose on this good-looking copy.
CGC notes, “Restoration includes: small amount of color touch on cover, pieces added to cover & interior, tear seals to cover & interior, spine split sealed, cover & interior reinforced, cover cleaned.” Overstreet 2021 GD 2.0 value = $263,000; VG 4.0 value = $526,000; FN 6.0 value = $920,500.
The auction is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 18 in Dallas, TX.
