INQUISITR.COM / Health & Lifestyle

The Most Valuable Superman Comic Book Ever Is For Sale On Ebay

By Dustin Wicksell
Published on: 13:25 PST, Aug 16, 2014

The finest known copy of Action Comics #1, the issue that features the first appearance of Superman, is up for sale on eBay, and the top bid for the one-of-a-kind piece is already close to $2 million.

Billed as “The Holy Grail of Comics,” this particular copy of Action Comics #1 carries a CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) rating of 9.0. The rating is the highest ever granted by the third-party service for this particular issue, which was published in June of 1938, according to Comicbook.com.

With an original print run of just 200,000 copies, Action Comics #1 is highly sought after by collectors. This is due largely to its cultural significance, as collectibles dealer Darren Adams, who is auctioning the comic, explains:

“This is THE comic book that started it all. This comic features not only the first appearance of Superman, Clark Kent and Lois Lane, but this comic began the entire superhero genre that has followed during the 76 years since. It is referred to as the Holy Grail of comics and this is the finest graded copy to exist with perfect white pages. This is…. the Mona Lisa of comics and stands alone as the most valuable comic book ever printed.”

Adams has already turned down a flat offer of $3 million for the comic, according to io9. With eight days remaining, the auction already has 21 bids, with a current sale price of $1,750,200.00.

Paul Litch, who works as a primary grader for CGC, claimed that “The quality and preservation of the Adams Action #1 is astounding,” adding that “The book looks and feels like it just came off the newsstand. It is supple, the colors are deep and rich, and the quality of the white pages is amazing for a comic that is 76 years old.” One other copy of Action Comics #1 has been graded as a 9.0, although that one had cream to off-white colored pages. That copy was sold in 2011 for $2,161,000 by ComicConnect.com, as The Inquisitr reported at the time.

What sets Adams’ copy apart from others is the fact that the comic was stored in conditions ideal for preservation:

“Compared to the other 9.0 that sold for $2.1million several years ago it has significant superior eye appeal, extremely vibrant colors and PERFECT WHITE PAGES. This means after 76 years the aging process has yet to begin. Truly this book is a museum piece.”

One percent of the auction’s proceeds will be donated to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The auction for the world’s most valuable Superman comic will run until August 24.

[Image via io9]

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