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May, 2019 The Antique Shoppe Page 29
million dollars.
COLLECTING WITH JEFF Okay, how about a few others that are worth a king’s ransom?
Detective Comics No. 27 was distributed in May 1939. That
By Jeff Figler comic was the first appearance of Batman. The highest sale price of

Detective Comics No. 27 is $2.1 million. Not too shabby for a ten cent
purchase.
COMIC BOOKS No. 8 came out a
All-Star Comics

couple years later
If you are like most of us who read newspapers or watch television in December 1941.
you may every so often hear about a comic book that sold for The United States
thousands of dollars. Maybe even hundreds of thousands of dollars. was just getting
Yes, you heard right. A flimsy periodical selling for all that money? involved in World
You bet. Possibly you asked your mom or dad about what happened War II. This time
to your comics. Most likely their answer has been that they threw the superhero was
them away. Why would they throw them out? The simple reason is a woman. Yes,
that they were taking up room, they were not being read, and that All-Star Comics
they were not worth anything. And they would be right most of the No. 8 featured the
time. But there are always exceptions. first appearance of
Allow me to point out a few of the most valuable comic books of Wonder Woman.
all time. If you had any of these you might want to stop reading. Now the country
Let’s start with the one that comes to mind of most people when had both men and
they think of the most valuable comics. I am referring to Action women heroes to
Comics No. 1, which came out in June 1938. It is valuable because admire. The highest
it is the first appearance of Superman. Yes, the sale of All-Star
superhero that the two Cleveland high school pals, Comics No. 8 was
Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, had sent to various $936,000.
magazines and newspapers, but were continually Other valuable
rejected. It is ironical that only the last ten pages comics include
of Action Comics No. 1 is devoted to Superman. Batman No. 1,
But the editors of the new magazine thought they which were distributed in April 1940. It featured the
would give it a try. There is no exact number as first appearance of the Joker and Catwoman.
to how many copies still exist, but probably fewer Superman No. 1, which came out in June 1939,
than a hundred. Of course, many of those copies was the first solo Superman comic. It has sold for
are not in good more than a half million dollars. Other valuable
condition, as they comics include Flash Comics No. 1 from June 1940. It
might have tape on featured the first appearance of The Flash. Sensation
them, staples, even Comics No. 1, from January 1942 included the
thumbtacks. There second appearance of Wonder Woman, but the first
could be tears. cover of her.
One company Captain America Comics No. 1 from 1941, Wonder Woman No. 1
that grades from 1942, and Whiz Comics No. 1 from 1940, are also high on the
comics, the Comics list. The Whiz Comics No. 1 displayed the first appearance of Captain
Guaranty Company Marvel.
(CGC) separates the Keep in mind that in the cases of the most valuable comics, they
comics it grades are great investments. But you will not find them in stores or at
into restored and garage sales and flea markets. Auction houses such as Heritage
non-restored Auctions, Mile High Comics, and EBay are noted for handling high
copies. Of course, end comics.
the non-restored It is a safe bet that any Superman and Spider-Man comics will
ones are worth appreciate. And remember that not all vintage comic books are
more, and CGC will valuable. They need to be of some significance to be valuable, such
designate them as the first appearance of Captain America or the first appearance of
with a light blue the Green Lantern in the All-American Comics No. 16.
label. A lavender Go look in some old boxes in your house and see if you can find
label means that some age-old treasure trove of comics. Who knows, you might be
the copy is in surprised. It is worth a try.
restored condition.
Even a torn off
front cover is valuable, upwards of $100,000. But the record sale of Jeff Figler, one of the world’ss leading experts on collectibles, has authored over 600 published articles, and
six books on collecting. He is currently a columnist for several magazines, including Sports Business Journal,
an Action Comics No. 1 is $3.2 million. You got it. A comic that your Sports Collectors Digest, Collectors Journal, and others. His latest book, Picker’ss Pocket Guide to Baseball
Memorabilia by Krause Publications, was released December 2014. You can contact Jeff at info@jefffigler.com
parents could have bought in 1938 for a dime could be worth a few or by visiting his website www.collectingwithjeff.com