It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a whole heck of a lot of cash. The holy grail of comic books, Action Comics #1, has just sold on eBay for an astounding $3,207,852.
The comic is graded a 9.0 by the reputable Certified Guaranty Company, making this comic the highest grade ever assigned to a copy of Action Comics #1.
"The quality and preservation of this Action No. 1 is astounding," Paul Litch, CGC Primary Grader, recently said in a statement about the issue. "The book looks and feels like it just came off the newsstand. It is supple, the colors are deep and rich and the quality of the white pages is amazing for a comic that is 76 years old."
The auction began on August 14 with an opening bid of $1 million, and that amount gradually increased over the 10-day period. The bidding war for this comic book heated up in the last few minutes of the auction, with hundreds of thousands of dollars being quickly thrown at the book.
"This was a record auction for eBay as it was the most expensive comic book ever sold on our marketplace," Gene Cook, general manager of emerging verticals for eBay Marketplaces, said in a statement. "The sale of Action Comics No. 1 is a prime example of how eBay plays a role in popular culture by connecting shoppers to must-have merchandise, including rare and valuable collectibles. This was an extraordinary opportunity to bring a comic -- one that has captured the attention of passionate collectors and casual fans alike."
As for the original owner of the book, he sounds like he is very pleased with the sale of his prized possession. "I'm proud to have owned the most valuable comic book in the world," seller Darren Adams said afterwards. "Working with eBay on this auction allowed me to share this rare treasure with their global community and ensure the next owner is just as passionate about its place in history."
Only around 50 copies of Action Comics #1 still exist, so this sale solidifies Superman as the Big Kahuna of superheroes. And just to think, a copy of the issue cost a mere 10 cents when it hit newsstands in 1938.
Part of the proceeds of the auction will go toward the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
