Bidding Exceeds $100,000 for Action Comics #1 Graded CGC 0.5
Posted on 8/29/2023
A low-grade example of the book that features the first appearance of Superman is poised to make history as the first 0.5 grade comic to ever realize six figures. It is among over 600 comic books graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) in the Comics and Comic Art Signature Auction presented by Heritage Auctions; bidding is already underway for the September 14-17, 2023 sale.
The comic to watch is an Action Comics #1 graded CGC 0.5 with the CGC blue Universal label (lot 91024) — the first appearance of Superman. Any opportunity to acquire this book at auction brings out the well-heeled bidders. For example: In January 2023, a CGC 6.0 copy set a new record for the title by selling for $3.55 million. While high prices have historically been reserved for mid-to-high-grade books, bidding has already surpassed $100,000 for the copy in this auction. The book will set a record as the first CGC 0.5-graded comic to sell for six figures.
Released in 1938, Action Comics #1 sold out its entire 200,000-print run. It has been estimated that only about 100 copies still exist today, and only 78 are recorded in the CGC Census. Among those graded, only 44 copies (a little over half the total) are unrestored. This auction is further demonstrating the value of CGC-graded comics in any grade.
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Also featured in this auction is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 graded CGC 9.8 (lot 91040). This book from Mirage Studios in 1984 has the first appearance of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Master Splinter and the villain Shredder. With only 42 CGC 9.8 copies in the CGC Census, the highest price ever paid for this comic was $264,000 in 2022.
Another Golden Age DC grail in this sale is a Batman #1 graded CGC 3.5 (lot 91029). This comic, published in 1940, has the first appearance of Joker and Catwoman. In this grade of CGC 3.5, the record price realized is $264,000 in a 2022 sale.
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Other CGC-graded comics in this auction include:
- an Amazing Fantasy #15 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 91027)
- an Avengers #4 graded CGC 9.8 (lot 91028)
- a Batman #1 graded CGC 1.8 (lot 92027)
- a Captain America Comics #1 graded CGC 2.0 (lot 91031)
- an Incredible Hulk #1 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 91033)
- a Punch Comics #12 with a Crowley pedigree graded CGC 8.0 (lot 91036)
- a Silver Surfer #4 graded CGC 9.8 (lot 91037)
- a Sub-Mariner Comics #1 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 91038)
- a Superman #1 graded CGC 1.5 (lot 91039)
- an X-Men #1 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 92202)
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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