First Spiderman comic book sells for 1.1 million.

[techs]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110309/ts_afp/lifestyleusauctioncomicspiderman

NEW YORK (AFP) – The inaugural 1962 comic book to feature Spider-Man netted a superhero-sized $1.1 million, the US online auctioneers said.

The copy of the Marvel comic book, in excellent condition, sold through ComicConnect.com with a cover that shows the spidery avenger -- in his other life known as the meek Peter Parker -- swinging from a high building with a man under his right arm.

Five decades ago, the comic went for just 12 cents.

The big sale has been bested only by the $1.5 million price reached for Superman's 1938 debut comic book last year. The 1930s to 1950s are seen as comics' golden age and surviving copies are keenly collected.

"The late 1950s and early 1960s are considered the Silver Age for comic books," said ComicConnect.com founder Stephen Fishler in a statement.

"People have often wondered how much this near-perfect condition book would sell for, and today we found out," Fishler said.

 

[DesiPower]

not a BIG surprise, I have seen similar news before...

 

[HAL9000]

Wow that must have been Amazing Fantasy #15 in like 9.6 or something!

 

[HAL9000]

not a BIG surprise, I have seen similar news before...

Yeah but for a Silver Age comic it's mental, considering the previous record for an SA comic was $227,000

 

[aldamon]

$1.1 million for a silver age comic is nuts especially with off-white pages. The huge comic sales are just a small group of people trading back and forth to drive up the price.

 

[HAL9000]

$1.1 million for a silver age comic is nuts especially with off-white pages. The huge comic sales are just a small group of people trading back and forth to drive up the price.

Very true, I couldn't find an image of the actual comic (obviously I know what AF#15 looks like, but I haven't seen one in this condition)

 

[aldamon]

Very true, I couldn't find an image of the actual comic (obviously I know what AF#15 looks like, but I haven't seen one in this condition)

Here's one from the CGC Forum.

EDIT: Just to clarify, this is the book that was sold for $1.1 million:

 

[darkxshade]

For 1.1 million, couldn't someone duplicate replica copies that wouldn't be able to be picked apart from the genuine article?

I always wondered that, considering these items doesn't have serial numbers, someone could make a killing selling fakes. For example, it shouldn't be hard to replicate M:TG cards like the black lotus and sell them at a few hundred a pop.

 

[HAL9000]

Here's one from the CGC Forum:

Wow, Unrestored 9.6! Mental, I wonder if that's the one that's been sold, it doesn't specify what grade it got, I assume it's a 9.6/9.8 or something, I wonder if it's a 10.0! :O

 

[SP33Demon]

Holy sht, 9.6 condition. How many of those exist in the CGC database?

 

[HAL9000]

Holy sht, 9.6 condition. How many of those exist in the CGC database?

1 Unrestored, 1 slight restoration.

 

[aldamon]

Wow, Unrestored 9.6! Mental, I wonder if that's the one that's been sold, it doesn't specify what grade it got, I assume it's a 9.6/9.8 or something, I wonder if it's a 10.0! :O

Yes, that's the exact one that was sold.

 

[HAL9000]

Yes, that's the exact one that was sold.

Awesome, I'm currently on the look out for a 1.0 or better. I will get it one day.

 

[SP33Demon]

I have a Spectacular Spidey #2 from 1969 in 9.8 condition, but can't imagine owning a 9.6 Amazing Fantasy. The rarity from early silver age is much more pronounced vs late silver (60's). 1.1 mil is a steal for that comic... Considering its rarity, it's virtually priceless and don't be surprised if it's sold in the future for 3X that amount.

 

[HAL9000]

I have a Spectacular Spidey #2 from 1969 in 9.8 condition, but can't imagine owning a 9.6 Amazing Fantasy. The rarity from early silver age is much more pronounced vs late silver (60's). 1.1 mil is a steal for that comic... Considering its rarity, it's virtually priceless and don't be surprised if it's sold in the future for 3X that amount.

I have a 1963 Amazing Spider-Man #1 in 4.5 Condition. I'm happy with it, I don't spend that much to get a good grade, as long as it's VG or so I'm happy. One day I will own AF#15, one day....

 

[SP33Demon]

I have a 1963 Amazing Spider-Man #1 in 4.5 Condition. I'm happy with it, I don't spend that much to get a good grade, as long as it's VG or so I'm happy. One day I will own AF#15, one day....

Very cool, how much is 4.5 condition worth?

I have an ungraded Daredevil #2, ( http://www.comicvine.com/daredevil-the-evil-menace-of-electro/37-7157/ ) from 1964. I think it's in 8.0 condition but going to send it in later this month. Also have a bunch of the cheaper 1964 Avengers 2-9 in 8.0+ condition. Don't think I could afford any early Amazing Spidermans or FF4 in VG condition though. So pricey.

 

[HAL9000]

Very cool, how much is 4.5 condition worth?

I have an ungraded Daredevil #2, ( http://www.comicvine.com/daredevil-the-evil-menace-of-electro/37-7157/ ) from 1964. I think it's in 8.0 condition but going to send it in later this month. Also have a bunch of the cheaper 1964 Avengers 2-9 in 8.0+ condition. Don't think I could afford any early Amazing Spidermans or FF4 in VG condition though. So pricey.

That's cool, I think it's worth about £3,000 or so, I got it in an eBay auction a while ago in a "box of old comics" Awesome find.

I collet Amazing Spider-Man, I've got 1,7,10,11,12,13,14,17,20,21,22,23,27,29,30,31,37,38,39,40,41,49,50,51,65,73,75,79. those are all my SA ones.

 

[PopCulture]

From 12 cents to 1 milli. That's incredible. I need to come across an old comic.

 

[techs]

From 12 cents to 1 milli. That's incredible. I need to come across an old comic.

People with nerd fathers have all the luck.

 

[aldamon]

I have a Spectacular Spidey #2 from 1969 in 9.8 condition, but can't imagine owning a 9.6 Amazing Fantasy. The rarity from early silver age is much more pronounced vs late silver (60's). 1.1 mil is a steal for that comic... Considering its rarity, it's virtually priceless and don't be surprised if it's sold in the future for 3X that amount.

I think there are more of these around in 9.6 than people think and probably with white pages, too. They're just locked up and ungraded. I'm thinking this is more of a publicity stunt than a benchmark since everything is so cloak and dagger with these kinds of sales. Regardless, I wouldn't' categorize this as a steal under any conditions.

 

[SP33Demon]

I think there are more of these around in 9.6 than people think and probably with white pages, too. They're just locked up and ungraded. I'm thinking this is more of a publicity stunt than a benchmark since everything is so cloak and dagger with these kinds of sales. Regardless, I wouldn't' categorize this as a steal under any conditions.

You could be right that there are more, but even if less than 5 exist it's a still great investment. Maybe you don't know much about the Silver Age, but early Silver Age had low print runs... you'd be hard pressed to find 100 that are even in 9.0+ condition, let alone 9.6.

For example, the DD#2 that I have from 1964, there are less than 65 in 9.0+ condition and only 5 in 9.6.

 

[HAL9000]

You could be right that there are more, but even if less than 5 exist it's a still great investment. Maybe you don't know much about the Silver Age, but early Silver Age had low print runs... you'd be hard pressed to find 100 that are even in 9.0+ condition, let alone 9.6.

I've always wondered, when you say low print runs, how many are we talking?

 

[SP33Demon]

I've always wondered, when you say low print runs, how many are we talking?

That's not generally public information, but I did find a site:
http://spiderfan.org/faq/comics.html

At the bottom you'll see the chart. I believe that's how many were printed for that entire year. So, around a half a million listed in 1966... if 5 issues were released that year, then 100K per issue. If 4, then 125K.

Most of the stuff from the early 60's had lower runs, I've noticed that 1964 had slightly higher runs than 1963. 1965, significantly higher.

A good indicator is the CGC Registry for popular titles. Like X-Men #2 (11/63), there are 49 that are 9.0 and up. X-Men #4 (3/64), 61. X-Men #10 (3/65), 116. So obviously the older you go, the lower the print run.

 

[HAL9000]

That's not generally public information, but I did find a site:
http://spiderfan.org/faq/comics.html

At the bottom you'll see the chart. I believe that's how many were printed for that entire year. So, around a half a million listed in 1966... if 5 issues were released that year, then 100K per issue. If 4, then 125K.

Most of the stuff from the early 60's had lower runs, I've noticed that 1964 had slightly higher runs than 1963. 1965, significantly higher.

A good indicator is the CGC Registry for popular titles. Like X-Men #2 (11/63), there are 49 that are 9.0 and up. X-Men #4 (3/64), 61. X-Men #10 (3/65), 116. So obviously the older you go, the lower the print run.

Ahh thanks for the info, I've got a 2.0 X-Men #1!

 

[DayLaPaul]

Fail Yahoo article doesn't even mention the name of the comic book or provide a pic of the cover.