Siblings have stumbled upon the most valuable comic book ever while cleaning their late mother’s attic. Three brothers sold one of the first Superman comics from June 1939 for a staggering $9.12million (£7million) at auction, making it the most expensive comic ever sold.
The brothers found the original copy and first edition of the Man of Steel’s adventures under a pile of old newspapers in a cobweb-covered cardboard box while cleaning out their late mother’s attic last Christmas in San Francisco. It was in a remarkably pristine condition, and the Texas-based Heritage Auctions, which hosted the sale, called it the « pinnacle of comic collecting ».
Heritage explained that the boys’ mother had purchased the books with her brother between the Great Depression and the beginning of World War Two, but the cool northern California climate was perfect for preserving old paper.
« If it had been in an attic here in Texas, it would have been ruined, » explained its vice-president, Lon Allen.
Even though they waited a few months before contacting the auction house, Heritage said Mr Allen visited the brothers in San Francisco within days of reaching out.
The brothers, who have chosen to withhold their names, are « in their 50s and 60s, and their mom had always told them she had an expensive comics collection but never showed them », Mr Allen added. They found six comic books, including Superman #1.
CGC, a large third-party comics grading service, give this copy of Superman #1 a 9.0 rating on a 10-point scale, topping the previous record of 8.5.
Previously, the most expensive comic ever sold was the Action Comics No. 1, the 1938 work that first introduced Superman, which sold for $6million (£4.57million) last year.
The youngest brother said: « This isn’t simply a story about old paper and ink. This was never just about a collectible. This is a testament to memory, family and the unexpected ways the past finds its way back to us, » reports the BBC.
He added: « As the years unfolded, life brought about a series of losses and changes. The demands of everyday survival took centre stage, and the box of comics, once set aside with care and intention, was forgotten. Until last Christmas. »
