CGC-certified Superman #1 Sells for $300,000
Posted on 11/22/2023
Golden Age comics featuring Superman and Wonder Woman were among many classic comics certified by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) that were sold for five and six figures in Heritage Auctions’ Comics and Comic Art Signature Auction on November 16-19, 2023.
Soaring above the rest was the grandfather of all superheroes — a Superman #1 graded CGC 3.0 (lot 91027), which realized $300,000.
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Superman, one of the most legendary superheroes, played a pivotal role in the birth of an entire industry when he made his debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. This marked the emergence of a new kind of protagonist, reminiscent of ancient mythology, and spurred the creation of numerous heroes who dominated the comic book scene during World War II. Following Superman's introduction, the sales of Action Comics skyrocketed with each subsequent issue. As a result of this popularity, DC decided to give Superman his own dedicated title.
Also sold in this auction was an All-Star Comics #8 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 91017), which realized $180,000. This issue is significant as the first appearance of Wonder Woman, by William Marston. Wonder Woman is an Amazonian princess and warrior whose character has evolved over the years, becoming a feminist icon and a prominent member of the Justice League. This sale is the most ever paid for this issue and grade, towering over the previous record of an 8.0 copy sold for $56,763 in 2012.
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Other CGC-certified comics sold in this auction include:
- a Captain America Comics #1 graded CGC 3.0 (lot 91021), which realized $126,000
- a More Fun Comics #73 graded CGC 6.5 (lot 91024), which realized $120,000
- a Richie Rich #1 graded CGC 9.6 (lot 91026), which realized $96,000
- a Batman #121 graded CGC 9.2 (lot 92127), which realized $72,000
- an Amazing Fantasy #15 graded CGC 5.0 (lot 94203), which realized $69,601
- an Amazing Fantasy #15 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 92119), which realized $66,000
- an Incredible Hulk #181 graded CGC 9.8 (lot 92145), which realized $66,000
- a Zip Comics #7 graded CGC 9.9 (lot 92086), which realized $63,000
- an Action Comics #1 Page One Only graded CGC PG (lot 94001), which realized $57,600
- a Batman #37 graded CGC 9.6 with a Promise Collection pedigree (lot 91019), which realized $48,000
Prices realized include a buyer’s premium.
About CGC
Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for many other types of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes.
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