Newly Discovered "Superman #1" Comic Expected to Fetch Millions at November Auction

Newly Discovered "Superman #1" Comic Expected to Fetch Millions at November Auction

Posted on November 02, 2025 by Neil Cole

A newly authenticated copy of the 1939 issue of "Superman #1" has been certified at a grade of 9.0 by the grading service Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) and is set to appear on the auction block during Heritage Auctions' Comic Books Signature Auction scheduled for November 20th - 22nd, 2025.

Unearthed by three brothers in the attic of their late mother's Northern California home, the comic was discovered after decades of unnoticed storage beneath layers of newspapers and dust. Alongside this treasure sat five early issues of "Action Comics" (#9, #12, #15, #18 and #21). Experts have confirmed the "Superman #1" copy as originating from the first printing of the title, which initially printed approximately 500,000 copies - a fact determined by a distinguishable advertisement variant found on the issue's cover.

This copy attains the highest grade ever recorded by CGC for this issue and rises above prior high-grade copies previously available. One earlier copy with a grade of 8.0 (later upgraded to 8.5) fetched approximately $5.3 million in a private sale in 2022. Current bidding for the 9.0 graded issue has already exceeded $2.25 million and is expected to escalate significantly. The imminent sale has already captured global attention, with the issue's condition, rarity and provenance being cited as exceptional within the collecting community.

Heritage Auctions will offer the "Superman #1" comic along with the accompanying "Action Comics" issues without a reserve, and the auction is poised to set a new benchmark for comic-book valuations. The catalogue and full lot details are available through the official Heritage website.