Superman No 1 of 1939, sold at $675,000 (£553,280) by Heritage.
However, that did not prevent it from living up to its special place in comic history at a premium-inclusive selling price of $675,000 (£553,280) during a January 12-15 series of comic and comic art sales held by Heritage of Dallas.
The reason for its success becomes clearer when you consider the nature of other successful comics available at that time, the saleroom pointed out.
Almost all were anthologies and no-one would at the time have considered devoting an entire comic series to a character who was not a proven success from the more traditional world of cartoons or newspaper strips – which in those days was where most of the successful characters first appeared.
The ‘Nova Scotia’ pedigree attached to this costly copy referred to an auction house that had once auctioned this highly desirable item as part of a lot offering the first five issues – an event that Heritage could scarcely bear to think about.
Amazing condition
The auction was actually led at $810,000 (£663,935) by what was described as a stunning, near mint, 9.2 graded copy of Amazing Fantasy No 15. This was the 1962 ‘Silver Age’ comic in which Spider-Man made his first appearance.
Published in 1940, a copy of the first Batman comic, $552,000 (£452,460) at Heritage.
Other high-priced lots included an unrestored copy of the first Batman comic of 1940, rated FN 6.0, which sold at $552,000 (£452,460).
A couple of original artworks also brought sizeable six-figure bids.
Bid to $48,000 (£39,345) in the Heritage sale was a near mint copy of Headline Comics No 8 of 1944, which featured Hitler on its cover.
A copy of Headline Comics No 8 of 1944, rated VF/NM 9.0 and was the highest graded copy that Heritage had ever offered.
As the accompanying illustration reveals, it has a curious cover in which Hitler is seen emerging from an unwisely rubbed magic lamp, much to the discomfort of those responsible for his startling arrival.
It sold at $48,000 (£39,345).
