A restored copy of the most important comic book in history, Action Comics #1, has received impressive bids in an online auction that closed yesterday (January 16).
 Action Comics #1 is so highly valued that $77,000 is considered 'affordable' |
The issue - graded CGC 2.0 - sold for $77,333 after receiving 30 bids. It is highly coveted by collectors for its introduction of the archetype of all heroes to come, Superman.
Prior to the sale, the auction house's Rob Reynolds commented: "This is a tremendous opportunity to own an affordable copy of the planet's most important comic book. For some guys, this is the last best chance and I would hate to see anyone miss out."
The same auction house previously sold a 9.0 graded copy for $2.1m in 2011, which is believed to have been the same copy stolen from actor Nicholas Cage in 2001. This is now the most valuable comic book ever sold at auction.
Action Comics #1 was first published in April 1938 as an anthology of 11 features. Seeing the introduction of many new characters, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's Superman soon became a icon for its young Depression-era readers and was easily transformed into a symbol of American strength during the second world war.
The copy at auction was severely devalued by its poor condition, with the restoration seeing pieces added, extensive cleaning and lightening and its centrefold and last pages trimmed. There are less than 1,000 copies of Action Comics #1 in existence.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a fantastic selection of comic art for sale, including an extensive collection of items from Charles Schulz's Peanuts - the world's best-loved daily comic.
