A nearly-pristine copy of Superman #1 has been rediscovered, and is now expected to sell for millions of dollars. The comic book collecting world has been sent into a frenzy by this amazing find, and when the unearthed copies of Superman and other classic comics go up for auction this month, they could bring in record-breaking sums.

According to CGC Comics, the foremost company in appraising classic comics, the freshly uncovered edition of Superman #1 is the “highest-graded” copy of the 1939 issue.

The nearly 90-year-old comic was carefully preserved, and now it is worth a fortune. At auction, the comic could potentially bring in north of 5 million dollars.

A Rediscovered Copy Of “Superman #1” Is The Most Well-Preserved In History, And Could Be Worth Over $6 Million

An Unprecedented 9.0 Rating By The CGC

Superman #1 cover, Superman flying in the air with a yellow-gold frame around him

It’s an almost-unbelievable story of loss and lost treasure. In the wake of a family tragedy, a trio of brothers cleaning out their late mother’s house made a life-changing discovery, finding the literal Holy Grail of comic collecting: Superman #1, in virtually flawless condition. The Comic Guaranty Company rates it as a 9.0, the highest-ever on its scale.

For perspective? The Superman #1 copy previously considered the best-maintained, with a rating of 8.0, was acquired in a private sale for $5.3 million, just a few years ago. That sets an imposing price tag on the newly-discovered 9.0 copy, and puts it in the realm of the “most expensive comic” on record.

That distinction is currently held by another Superman first, his official debut in Action Comics #1. In 2024, a copy of Action Comics #1 was sold for a record-setting $6 million. That issue held a CGC rating of 8.5, slightly lower than the rediscovered Superman #1. In other words, the 9.0 Superman #1 should top six-million.

The Uncovered “Superman #1” Is Part Of A Larger Collection Likely Worth Tens Of Millions

An Unprecedented Treasure Trove Of Classic Comics

According to the CGC, even a copy of Superman #1 with a rating as low as 3.0 has sold for #360,000 dollars. Comic books were, of course, considered ephemera in their day. The idea of preserving comics for the future was a degree of foresight that only a limited set of readers possessed at the dawn of the superhero genre.

As such, flawless copies of early 20th-century comics are exceptionally rare. CGC President Matt Nelson put it this way:

It’s almost unbelievable that, out of nearly a million copies of Superman #1 printed in 1939, only 200 have made it to CGC for grading over 25 years. In addition to the considerable rarity of Superman #1 today, the fact that this copy is the most well preserved CGC has ever seen is extraordinary. We are thrilled to certify it as the highest-graded copy in existence.

Further, as if they hadn’t hit enough of a jackpot, the brothers who found their mother’s perfectly-maintained copy of Superman #1 are also now in possession of additional comics described as “unsurpassed in grade in the CGC Census.”

These are early issues of Action Comics; their late mother’s collection is apparently significant beyond that, meaning its total value is hard to fathom at this time, though it will certainly amount to tens of millions. This discovery of Superman #1 and more is an astounding, unparalleled story in the history of comic collection.