Superman 1 CGC 5.5 (R) 1939 Action Comics – eBay (item 350054083840 end time May-07-08 19:31:07 PDT)
Winning bid: US $18,739.00 Seller: filter81( 219)
For sale in this auction is a Superman 1 in apparent CGC 5.5 Fn- condition. The CGC label reads "Color touch, pieces added, tear seals, cleaned, reinforced" and the book has cream to off-white pages. This comic has a little bit of foxing along the top right edge, but structurally is very solid for a mid grade copy!
Superman 1 was published close to 70 years ago and is the 4th most valuable comic book of all-time according to the Overstreet price guide, with a NM- guide value of $400,000! (It is important to note that a true unrestored NM- would sell for many multiples of that price though) This comic not only contains the origin of Superman, but is also the first time an entire comic book was dedicated to just one super-hero. It's success literally changed the face of comics from that point on.
Superman 1 has always been one of the biggest "grails" in the comic book hobby. Over the last 6 years or so in particular, Superman 1 has easily been one of the best comic book investments available, with the guide price just about doubling in several grades over that time period. According to the latest Overstreet guide, even G guide value for this comic is now $21,000. (Though guide value is pretty much thrown out the window when talking about a Superman 1 in any grade anyway and even an unrestored 2.0 would likely sell for anywhere from 1.5x to 2x that price these days.) In fact, it is getting increasingly difficult to find any solid complete Superman 1 for much under $30,000 these days.
A restored 5.5 with a bit less restoration than this one sold over a year ago for $27,000. Even lower grade restored copies have been going up in price lately with an Extensively restored CGC 3.0 selling last year for $17,000 and an extensively restored 3.5 selling on eBay for over $18,000! (Neither of which were anywhere near as nice as this copy!)
Best of all, this piece of comic book history is being auctioned off with No starting bid and no reserve!! Someone will win this book!!