Rare ‘Superman’ No. 1 comic found in attic sets new auction record

A copy of Superman No. 1 discovered by three brothers in their late mother’s attic has set a new record at auction

A pristine copy of Superman No. 1 discovered in a Northern California attic has sold for $9.12 million at Heritage Auctions, setting a new record for the most expensive comic book ever sold at auction.

The 1939 issue, graded 9.0 by the Certified Guaranty Company, the highest grade ever recorded for this comic, was part of a small collection uncovered by three brothers sorting through their late mother’s belongings.

The books had been preserved under old newspapers in the attic of their family home.

The sale surpasses the previous auction record held by Action Comics No. 1, which sold for $6 million in 2024.

Superman first appeared in Action Comics No. 1 in 1938 before launching his own series the following year.

Heritage Auctions says only seven known copies of Superman No. 1 have a CGC grade of 6.0 or higher.

The family’s discovery also included several early issues of Action Comics, adding to the significance of the find.