Last Christmas, three brothers from Northern California made a discovery that would transform their lives. While cleaning out their late mother’s attic, they found a cardboard box buried beneath decades of accumulated newspapers and dust. Inside sat a copy of Superman #1 from 1939—one of the rarest comic books in existence. Their mother had always spoken of her valuable collection, but the siblings had never actually seen it.
On November 20, 2025, that forgotten comic sold for $9.12 million at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, shattering every record in comic book history. The original purchase price in 1939 was just ten cents. The appreciation represents a staggering 91.2 million times the original value—an increase of more than $106,000 per year over 86 years.
A Near-Perfect Relic Preserved by Climate
What made this particular copy extraordinary was its near-flawless condition. CGC, the world’s largest third-party comics grading service, awarded it a 9.0 out of 10—the highest grade ever assigned to a Superman #1. The comic displayed a firm spine, vibrant colors, and crisp corners despite spending decades protected by nothing more than old newspapers in a cardboard box.
The cool, dry climate of Northern California played a crucial role in preservation. According to Lon Allen, vice president of comics at Heritage Auctions, geographic fortune proved decisive. “If it had been stored in an attic here in Texas, it would have been ruined,” he explained. That climactic luck transformed a forgotten childhood keepsake into the most valuable comic book ever sold.
A Depression-Era Treasure
The brothers’ mother and her brother had purchased the comics between the Great Depression and the early years of World War II—a time of profound hardship for American families. For two children growing up with little money and few luxuries, those colorful pages offered something priceless: escape, adventure, and hope in a troubled world.
The youngest brother shared that comics “became a treasured refuge” for his mother and uncle, who grew up in a cramped apartment where luxuries were rare. When the siblings reached adulthood, the mother’s uncle—a lifelong bachelor—decided to pass his share of the collection to his sister’s sons. She carefully tucked the box away in the attic, intending to give it to her boys at the right moment. Life intervened, and the moment never came during her lifetime.
From Attic to Auction Block
After discovering the comics last Christmas, the brothers waited several months before contacting Heritage Auctions. When their message reached Allen’s desk on a Sunday, he wasted no time. He flew to San Francisco to inspect the collection in person and consult with other experts about its authenticity and value.
A small, in-house advertisement inside the comic helped experts confirm its provenance. The ad revealed the book originated from the first edition of 500,000 Superman #1 copies ever printed in 1939. Allen estimates fewer than 300 copies survive today—meaning roughly 99.9% of the original print run has been lost to time, decay, and destruction.
Allen described the find as a collector’s dream. “It was just in an attic, sitting in a box, could have easily been thrown away, could’ve easily been destroyed in a thousand different ways,” he said. “Many people got excited because it combines every factor in collecting that you could want, all rolled into one.”
A Pioneering Superhero’s Record-Breaking Legacy
Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 in June 1938, created by Cleveland teenagers Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The character proved so wildly popular that DC gave him his own dedicated title in 1939—making Superman #1 the first comic book ever devoted entirely to a single superhero. That pioneering moment launched an industry worth billions of dollars.
Superman has now broken comic book price records three times in three years. In 2022, another copy of Superman #1 sold privately for $5.3 million. In 2024, Action Comics #1 fetched $6 million at Heritage Auctions. This latest sale surpassed the previous record by more than 50 percent.
The collection also included five early issues of Action Comics. One Action Comics issue featuring Zatara sold for $204,000, while another, focused on Superman and described as the best-preserved copy known, sold for $264,000.
A Testament to Memory and Family
Following the record-breaking sale, Allen released a statement calling the comic “a milestone in pop culture history.” He added, “This copy is not only in unprecedented condition, but it has a movie-worthy story behind it.”
One of the brothers captured the emotional weight of the discovery in a statement to Heritage Auctions. “This isn’t simply a story about old paper and ink,” he said. “This was never just about a collectible. This is a testament to memory, family, and the unexpected ways the past finds its way back to us.”
The three brothers chose to remain anonymous due to the enormous windfall involved, and the buyer likewise declined to be identified. What is known is that a family’s forgotten inheritance—purchased for pocket change during America’s darkest economic decade—has transformed three men into millionaires overnight. Their mother’s quiet act of preservation turned a 10-cent purchase into a $9.12 million testament to the enduring power of the world’s first superhero.
Sources
Heritage Auctions, Dallas (November 2025 sale announcement and press releases)
Lon Allen, Vice President of Comics, Heritage Auctions (direct statements and quotes)
Associated Press, Reuters, BBC News coverage (November 20–26, 2025)
CGC Comics grading report, November 2025
Direct family statements released via Heritage Auctions