Superman copy found in mum's attic is most valuable comic ever at $9.12m

November 21, 2025

Three brothers in California discovered a rare first edition Superman #1 comic from June 1939 while clearing out their deceased mother's attic during Christmas last year. The comic, which had been stored in pristine condition under old newspapers since their mother and uncle purchased it between the Great Depression and World War II, received an unprecedented 9. 0 rating from a professional grading service.

Who is affected

Three brothers (in their 50s and 60s) who inherited and sold the comic
Their late mother who originally collected the comics
Heritage Auctions (Texas-based auction house)
Lon Allen (Heritage Auctions vice-president)
CGC (third-party comics grading service)
The buyer of the comic (unnamed)
The broader comic collecting community

What action is being taken

No explicit next steps stated in the article
(Note: The article describes actions that have already been completed - the discovery occurred last Christmas 2024, the auction took place on Thursday, and the sale has been finalized.)

Why it matters

This sale represents a historic milestone in comic book collecting, establishing a new record price of $9.12 million that exceeds the previous record by $3 million. The discovery demonstrates how valuable cultural artifacts can remain hidden for decades and resurface unexpectedly, while the comic's exceptional 9.0 condition rating (the highest ever for this issue) makes it an extraordinary find. The story also illustrates the importance of preservation conditions and highlights how Depression-era purchases have transformed into multi-million dollar assets, validating the cultural and financial significance of early superhero comics.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC