Vintage Copy of "Action Comics No. 1" CGC 5.0 (Restored) Available at Auction
Posted on August 01, 2025 by Neil Cole
PBA Galleries is proud to present an extraordinary offering for collectors and comic book enthusiasts: a rare, restored copy of "Action Comics No. 1", graded CGC 5.0 (Very Good/Fine), which marks the historic first appearance of Superman, Lois Lane, and the Kent family. This iconic issue, originally published in 1938, is widely considered the birth of the superhero genre and one of the most valuable and sought-after comic books in the world. It will be available as Lot 31 in the "DC Universe Collection Part 6: Action Comics and More" auction taking place on August 7, 2025, at 11 AM PST.
Certified by CGC with a restored grade of A-4, the comic includes professional enhancements such as color touch, added pieces, tear seals, cover reinforcement, and lightened interior pages. Despite the restoration, the issue retains off-white to white pages and presents exceptionally well. What makes this particular copy stand out is not just its condition and certification, but its storied provenance. It hails from the famed DC Universe Collection, compiled by British music producer and lifelong collector Ian Levine, and has been featured prominently in DC's own retrospective publications, including 75 Years of DC Comics by Taschen. It is arguably the most widely seen copy of "Action Comics No. 1" ever published in official DC material.
Restored copies of this caliber are exceedingly rare on the open market. The last CGC 5.0 restored copy to be sold publicly fetched approximately $56,800 back in 2007. In recent years, similarly graded restored copies have reached record highs, with CGC 5.5 examples selling for as much as $528,000 and a CGC 6.5 copy selling for $384,000 at Heritage Auctions in January 2025. In contrast, unrestored CGC 5.0 copies have topped $815,000, while even 3.0 graded universal editions have neared $960,000, underscoring the continuing demand for both restored and unrestored key issues.
This particular copy, with its combination of visual appeal, historical significance, and documented legacy, represents the pinnacle of restored Golden Age comic collecting. It offers bidders a unique opportunity to own a piece of comic book history—one that helped launch an entire genre and continues to influence popular culture to this day.
The auction will be held by PBA Galleries at their Berkeley, California location and will be accessible to collectors worldwide via online bidding platforms. Full catalog details, including high-resolution images and certification documentation, are now available for viewing.
For more information or to register to bid, please visit PBAGalleries.com.
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English (US) · 