From the October 2008 CGC eNewsletter. Click here to subscribe.

Jamie Graham, owner of a chain of nine comic book stores in the Chicago area, called Graham Crackers Comics, and Harley Yee, owner of Harley Yee Rare Comics, have jointly purchased a Superman #1 directly from an original owner. Jamie Graham said, "The original owner’s grandson brought forth the book, and Harley and I decided that we would split the book. It is a rare occurrence for a Superman #1 to be offered up in the secondary market, let alone from an original owner. Both Harley and I were struck by the clean cover, fresh eye appeal and excellent page quality for the era – most times when Superman #1’s surface, which is rarely in any grade, they have much lesser eye appeal and tan to brittle pages."

"Superman #1 is one of the hardest comic books to find in any grade," said Harley Yee. "I have handled more Golden Age comic books than just about anyone over the years, and Superman #1 is definitely among the rarest."

While both would have multiple buyers for this book at various price levels, Jamie and Harley both decided that auction would be the best method of sale for the book, and the fairest way to handle it. They decided to place the book with ComicLink in the upcoming November Featured Focused Auction, which starts October 30. Based on the prior sale of a 5.0 Superman #1, which hammered at $121,000 in ComicLink’s August Featured Auction, ComicLink has estimated the range of value for the 4.0 at $75,000–$100,000. When asked about the Superman #1, Josh Nathanson, president of ComicLink, said, "I just can’t get over the coincidence that this 4.0 would turn up right after the 5.0 sale. Indicative of the scarcity, the 5.0 was the best example that we have ever had the opportunity to auction or sell for Superman #1, and this 4.0 comes in at a close second. Normally, this issue shows up in the 1.0 range if unrestored, or it has moderate to extensive restoration. While I encourage any prospective seller to prove me wrong, I do not expect to see another one like this for quite some time."

In addition to the Superman #1, there are many other impressive keys in the upcoming ComicLink auction, including key Silver Age issues Fantastic Four #1, CGC 8.5; Amazing Spider-Man #1, CGC 9.0; and Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC 7.5; all with off–white to white pages. Key high–grade Golden Age rarities All Winners Comics #1, CGC 9.4; and Detective Comics #168, CGC 9.2; (first Joker Origin) are also in the auction, and both are one of only two that CGC has ever graded as High for the respective issues. Many other highlights abound in the ComicLink Auction, including some of the very highest graded Fantastic Four and X-men examples from the original owner collection, recently coined the Rocky Mountain pedigree collection by Josh Nathanson, owner of ComicLink. Numerous scarce and high-grade Golden, Silver and Bronze Age Marvel, DC and other publishers are included in the auction, ranging from scarce, Classic World War II, Pre Code and Good Girl covers from the 1940s and 1950s to the highest graded Flash, Neal Adams Batman and Detective issues. Original Art such as Steve Ditko Spider-Man, Jack Kirby Fantastic Four, Will Eisner spirit, EC Vault of Horror and Tales From the Crypt full stories, Bill Sienkiewicz and Jim Lee Moon Knight, Alex Ross JSA, and many other great OA pieces are also going to be in this auction. ComicLink is still accepting seller consignments for the auction and Douglas Gillock or Josh Nathanson can be reached at 718-246-0400 or via e-mail at buysell@comiclink.com. You can also view the already impressive but still growing Featured Auction Preview.

This is a guest article. The thoughts and opinions in this piece are those of their author and are not necessarily the thoughts of the Certified Collectibles Group.