Newly Discovered Superman #1 Earns Sole-highest Grade in CGC Census; Now Expected to Sell for Millions

A stunning new discovery has rewritten comic book history! Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) is thrilled to have authenticated and graded a newly discovered copy of Superman #1 that earned a grade of CGC 9.0, an astonishing feat that makes it the highest-graded Universal copy ever.

Now certified and ready to soar once again, this Superman #1 is being offered by Heritage Auctions in an upcoming sale expected to draw global attention.

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"Collectors around the world rely on CGC because we provide the most trusted and thorough grading for rare, high-value comics, ensuring that iconic pieces like this one are recognized and protected for generations to come," said Matt Nelson, President of CGC.

Among the most iconic superheroes, Superman is responsible for launching an industry when he first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938, ushering in a new type of protagonist that harkened back to ancient mythology and inspiring the creation of countless heroes that dominated the newsstands throughout World War II.

After Superman’s debut, sales of Action Comics surged with each issue. DC then decided to give Superman his own title, another first for the burgeoning comic industry. Superman #1 hit the stands in the summer of 1939 and instantly sold out its first print run of a half million copies, The company made subsequent runs of 250,000 and then 150,000.

"It’s almost unbelievable that, out of nearly a million copies of Superman #1 printed in 1939, only 200 have made it to CGC for grading over 25 years,” Nelson said. “In addition to the considerable rarity of Superman #1 today, the fact that this copy is the most well preserved CGC has ever seen is extraordinary. We are thrilled to certify it as the highest-graded copy in existence."

This example, unseen in collecting circles until now, surpasses even the legendary copy with a Mile High pedigree and graded CGC 8.0, which sold privately in 2022 for $5.3 million.

Unlike most other key issues from the same time period, Superman #1 is very difficult to find in even average condition. That made it even more amazing when three brothers, taking stock of their late mother’s belongings in their family home in Northern California during the holiday season last year, discovered she had for decades held onto a cache of old comic books, tucked away in the attic beneath layers of brittle faded newspapers and cobwebs.

Along with this stunning copy of Superman #1, the family also discovered five early issues of Action Comics — #9 (CGC 6.5), #12 (CGC 9.0), #15 (CGC 9.4), #18 (CGC 9.0) and #21 (CGC 8.0). Three of these are unsurpassed in grade in the CGC Census.

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Three months after making the discovery, the brothers contacted Dallas-based Heritage Auctions to discuss the possibility of a sale.

“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime story, and one that will go down permanently in popular culture lore,” says Jim Halperin, Heritage Co-Chairman. “A newly discovered, highest-graded copy of one of the greatest comic books in the history of the medium is the stuff dreams are made of. This auction may set a new milestone for the hobby, and we’re honored we were entrusted with this grail of grails.”

Heritage Auctions’ Comic Books Signature® Auction is open now, with bidding scheduled to close on November 20-22, 2025.

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs 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. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.