A rare Superman comic book that was discovered in an attic has now become the most valuable ever after it fetched more than $9 million at auction.
Sold on Thursday (November 20), the New York Post reports that a pristine copy of the first-ever Superman comic was discovered by three brothers in the attic of their late mother’s home.
Despite the fact that its only protection was a stack of old newspapers in a cardboard box, the comic earned a 9.0 on a 10-point scale from the world’s largest third-party comics grading service, CGC.
Before the auction, Heritage Auctions said of the discovery: "Three Northern California brothers taking stock of their late mother’s belongings in their family home during the holiday season last year discovered she had for decades held onto a cache of old comic books, tucked away in an attic beneath layers of brittle faded newspapers and cobwebs."
"Six treasured comics, kept since she and her brother bought them between the Great Depression and the looming World War II, will likely result in a life-changing windfall at Heritage’s Comic Books Signature Auction — and could include the world’s most valuable comic book," the statement continued.
Three months after discovering the comic, the three brothers reached out to auctioneers to discuss whether they’d sell the comic.
"What a momentous day. I’m thrilled for our consignor," Lon Allen, Vice President of the Dallas-based auction house, said. "I was glad to see the price reflect that and am honoured Heritage was entrusted with this iconic book."
This Superman comic book’s sale beat the previous record for an 8.5 graded copy of Action Comics No. 1 that went for $6 million at an auction in 2024.
In 2022, a copy of Superman No. 1 sold for $5.3 million at auction.