'Unrestored' copy of first Superman comic book for sale

[Pikarya]

http://imgshack.info/images/n20k0yzysn1t8fqxor.jpg

- Action Comics No. 1 may fetch $400,000, expert says
- Comic book features debut of Superman, Lois Lane
- "There was no such thing as a superhero before Superman," expert says

(CNN) -- After being hidden away for years, a copy of the original "Superman and Friends" comic book will make a comeback -- at a price of about $400,000, a comic expert said Thursday.

Starting Friday, comic book collectors and Superman fans will have the opportunity to bid on a comic classic -- an "unrestored" copy of Action Comics No. 1, said Stephen Fishler, owner of Comic Connect, an online liaison between comic book buyers and sellers. The book's owner is not being identified.

The auction is attracting a lot of interest.

"One bidder wanted to trade his Ferrari for the comic book," as part of an under-the-table deal, Fishler joked. But he said the auction will remain public. "I couldn't see myself trading in my Toyota Prius" -- even for a $375,000 car.

Why is this comic book so unique?

"Of the 100 existing copies, 80 percent have been restored, but people want an untouched copy," Fishler said. The book is listed in "fine" condition, a six on the 10-point rating scale.

"It's the Holy Grail of comic books," Fishler said.

Co-created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the comic book first appeared on newsstands for 10 cents a copy in June 1938.

Nearly 12 years later, a young boy on the West Coast found himself in a secondhand book store, where he persuaded his dad to loan him 35 cents to buy the comic book.

Until 1966, the owner forgot about the book, which was hidden in his mother's basement. Since then, he's been holding onto it, hoping to see it increase in value, Fishler said. He has not been disappointed.

"There has been a lot of interest shown on the book in the collectibles market," said Fishler, who predicted the comic book will sell for about $400,000. But, he added, no minimum price has been set for the auction, so "whatever it sells for, it sells for.

"I've known Action Comics to sell for around $750,000," comic book sales associate Bill Peterson said. "I don't have any intention on making a bid, but I know people who don't mind dropping several thousand for a classic comic."

The comic book marked the first appearances of Lois Lane, Giovanni "John" Zatara and, of course, Superman. The book is in high demand because "there was no such thing as a superhero before Superman. It spawned everything that came after -- like Batman and Spider-Man," Fishler said.

Even during the current economic downturn, Fishler expects the book to do well.

Those who can afford to bid, he said, "would ordinarily put money into the stock market. But that's a shaky proposition." These days, the comic book may even be a better investment than putting money into a CD or a bond, Fishler speculated.

Because the book was published at the close of the Great Depression, it contains advertisements that may appear quaint and quirky to 21st century readers. For only $1.25, one could buy a blonde wig, a live chameleon, a whoopee cushion, a Bible "the size of a postage stamp" or hypnosis lessons.

"Some books seem to go in and out of fashion," reads the auction blurb at comicconnect.com. But "Action Comics No. 1 will never be one of those books."

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/book...ion/index.html

Shit just got serious, I didn't know comics sold for up to that high?

[SaviorSelf]

I sure as hell hope my Pokemon cards have the same turnaround in 50 years. >_>

[_chuchu]

Gotta preserve these slowpokes

[Kohan]

Shit just got serious, I didn't know comics sold for up to that high

Your geek card has been revoked. Consider yourself outcast.

[Zalius]

I sure as hell hope my Pokemon cards have the same turnaround in 50 years. >_>

first edition sealed box is gonna put my kids through college yep

[Cheerios]

first edition sealed box is gonna put my kids through college yep

I dunno if pokemon shit is gonna be worth a lot. I mean, I don't think people expected comics to really take off back then, so those who happened to collect are making bank. Now people collect every fucking thing in hopes that it'll be worth a lot later.

[Senoska]

Buy it and light it on fire. Cause the nerds to riot in the streets. Having a few pieces of paper is one thing; causing the comic nerd revolution is another

[Sol-Blackguy]

Someone's going to get ripped off eventually. There's so many re-prints of everything with no indication that you're not going to know what you're getting.
My aunt bought me an issue of X-Men #1 for $150 without researching and we found out it was a re-print worth $30

first edition sealed box is gonna put my kids through college yep

I'm still sitting on 2 boxes of Urza's legacy for the same reason.

[thestalkmore]

Buy it and light it on fire. Cause the nerds to riot in the streets. Having a few pieces of paper is one thing; causing the comic nerd revolution is another

Gotta be honest, don't really think I'd care.

[Plow]

I honestly would've thought that would be worth more than 400k.


I'm still pissed at my mom for refusing to buy this baseball card I wanted when I was like 8.

Mickey Mantle rookie card for $5,000. 1 sold a couple years ago for~$175k.

[Septimus]

You know, the sad thing is that if I had a time machine I would go back in time and buy copies of now expensive comic books and sports cards, put them in a safe deposit vault somewhere, and return to the present to make huge sums of cash.

Sure, you could make more money buying stocks, but buying and hiding comic books probably wouldn't alter the time-line since so many of them were lost/destroyed/throw out my my grandmother.

In fact, that would be a great lame super villain plot...

[Lordwafik]

Sure, you could make more money buying stocks, but buying and hiding comic books probably wouldn't alter the time-line since so many of them were lost/destroyed/throw out my my grandmother.

Oho! But Septimus, think of the person you just refused to allow buy a comic because you went back in time and bought it, and the chain of negativity that it caused!

Think of this scenario : A young lad, let's call him George, was promised by his father to get that "damn fangled comic book that all the adverts keep shoutin' 'bout" , he goes to the store with his lad only to inform George that the last issue was sold a to a gentleman in a cape (you). George is upset because his father promised him this comic, his father is upset that he is no proper dad, so George's dad shot his head off with a shotgun.

You just killed George Bush through time and prevented both of them from ever being presidents.



Wait a minute, that's not necessarily a bad thing, carry on.

(yes I know you're also referencing something else )

[Maxxthepenguin]

This is the exact worst time in US history to do something like this. At the moment, people are actually caring about spending their money on things that matter, that almost never happens!

[EckoGecko]

wow.

i collected these TB toys from mcdonals.. maybe that'll make me rich?

[MarkM.]

wow.

i collected these TB toys from mcdonals.. maybe that'll make me rich?

If they are unopened and still in the original plastic, maybe you can get a little money for them, otherwise probably not.

[Zalius]

I dunno if pokemon shit is gonna be worth a lot. I mean, I don't think people expected comics to really take off back then, so those who happened to collect are making bank. Now people collect every fucking thing in hopes that it'll be worth a lot later.

yes, yes it will. it was a gift and i never opened it. its chillin in my garage with a gold coin from 1908 and a gold necklace from the late 1800s. the future is mine.

[guartz]

http://www.wunderland.com/WTS/Andy/P...Lotus.Mrez.jpg

/thread

[EckoGecko]

If they are unopened and still in the original plastic, maybe you can get a little money for them, otherwise probably not.

yeah, they're is like 10 or 11 of them all in plastic baggie. it's been like ten years now that i've had them.

[pohibaba]

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...ba/auction.jpg

/thread

[Tristam]

/thread

bravo!