Three brothers from Northern California were doing what countless families do after losing a parent—cleaning out the attic, sorting through decades of accumulated belongings. Their late mother had always told them she owned a valuable comic book collection, but they had never seen it for themselves.
Then, last Christmas, buried beneath layers of brittle newspapers and decades of cobwebs, they found a forgotten cardboard box.
The Discovery That Defied 86 Years of Odds
Inside that dusty box sat a copy of Superman #1 from 1939—one of the rarest comic books on Earth. The brothers, now in their 50s and 60s, had grown up hearing their mother’s stories about her precious comics.
According to Lon Allen, vice president of comics at Heritage Auctions, their mother “had always told them she had an expensive comics collection but never showed them.”
From Dime-Store Purchase to Multi-Million Dollar Windfall
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 price tag in 1939? Just ten cents.
That represents a staggering 91.2 million times the original value—an appreciation of more than $106,000 per year over 86 years.
The Highest-Graded Superman #1 Ever Certified
What made this particular copy so 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.
Northern California’s Climate Saved a Fortune
The cool, dry climate of Northern California played an unlikely hero in preserving this treasure. According to Allen, the weather conditions proved crucial. “If it had been stored in an attic here in Texas, it would have been ruined,” he told reporters.
That climactic luck transformed a forgotten childhood keepsake into the most valuable comic book ever sold.
Comics Bought During Desperate Times
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.
Comics Were Their Only Refuge in a Cramped Apartment
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. “But they had each other and a shared love for comic books,” he said in a statement released by the auction house.
Those modest childhood possessions would one day be worth more than the homes of most Americans combined.
A Brother’s Promise Kept Through Decades
When the siblings reached adulthood, the mother’s brother—a lifelong bachelor who never had children—decided to pass his share of the collection to his sister’s sons. She carefully tucked the box away, deep into the recesses of the attic, hidden but safe, intending to give it to her boys at the right moment.
Life intervened, and the moment never came during her lifetime.
The Box Was Forgotten Until Last Christmas
As the youngest brother explained, “the demands of everyday survival took center stage, and the box of comics, once set aside with care and intention, was forgotten.
Until last Christmas.” When the brothers finally put their mother’s house up for sale and began sorting through her belongings, they stumbled upon the inheritance she had been waiting decades to reveal.
Three Months of Silence Before the Call
After discovering the comics, the brothers waited several months before contacting Heritage Auctions. When their message landed on Lon Allen’s desk on a Sunday, he wasted no time.
Allen flew to San Francisco to inspect the collection in person and consult with other experts about its authenticity and value.
An In-House Ad Confirmed the First Print Run
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.
“Every Factor in Collecting Rolled Into One”
Allen described the find as a collector’s dream come true. “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.
Superman: The First Superhero to Capture Pop Culture
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.
The Record-Breaking Legacy of the Man of Steel
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—the anthology that first introduced Superman—fetched $6 million at Heritage Auctions.
This latest sale surpassed the previous record by more than 50 percent.
A “Milestone in Pop Culture History”
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. I was glad to see the price reflect that and am honored Heritage was entrusted with this iconic book.”
The Collection Included Five Early Action Comics
Superman #1 was not the only treasure hidden in that attic box. The brothers also discovered five early issues of Action Comics, including issues #9, #12, #15, #18, and #21.
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.
This Isn’t Simply a Story About Old Paper and Ink
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.”
Sellers and Buyer Remain Anonymous
The three brothers chose to remain anonymous due to the enormous windfall involved, and the buyer of the comic 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.
A Twist on the Old “Mom Threw Away My Comics” Story
Allen offered a wry observation about the sale’s unusual backstory. “It’s a twist on the old ‘Mom threw away my comics’ story,” he told reporters.
Instead of destroying her children’s collection, this mother safeguarded her own, and in doing so, left her sons one of the most valuable inheritances in American pop culture history.
What Treasures Are Hidden in Your Family’s Attic?
The sale of Superman #1 serves as a reminder that treasures can hide in plain sight for decades. Somewhere in America, there may be more forgotten boxes—more brittle newspapers protecting fragile fortunes.
For the three California brothers, their mother’s quiet act of preservation turned a 10-cent purchase into a $9.12 million testament to memory, family, and the enduring power of the world’s first superhero.
Primary 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