The June 1938 issue of Action Comics introduced Superman to the world.
By Michael Stillman
These are tough times to get the best prices for your books, but as we know, every rule has its exception. On March 13, the first comic book featuring Superman went under the hammer at the Comic Connection. Eighty-nine bids later, the June 1938 edition of Action Comics was sold for $317,200. For those calculating, this was something like a 317 million percent return on the original price of 10 cents. The previous owner reportedly paid a little more than a dime for it... 35 cents, back in the 1950s. This is sobering news for all of those mothers who told their children to stop wasting their money on comic books.
Not yet a star, Superman's name does not appear on this comic's cover. However, even then we could see the extraordinary powers that would make Superman a superstar in the years ahead. The caped crusader, red cape flowing in the wind, is seen lifting a car and smashing it against a rock, to the amazement and terror of some fleeing bystanders.
The buyer was John Dolmayan, drummer for the rock band System of a Down. The band is noted for some strange songs, but nothing so strange as paying 317 grand for a comic book. Disorder! Disorder! Dolmayan runs Torpedo Comics, an online comic selling website, and reportedly said the purchase was on behalf of an unidentified client. If I spent $317,000 for a comic book, I wouldn't want to be identified either. There are only around 100 copies of this first Superman comic still in existence. It's time to check out those old comics in the attic to see if there might be 101.
Doyle The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore June 4, 2025
Doyle The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore June 4, 2025
DOYLE: Peter Max, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore (Versions 1,2, 5, 6), 2001. Estimate $10,000-15,000
DOYLE: The iconic screen-used wall-mounted "M" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Estimate $5,000-8,000
DOYLE: The Mary Tyler Moore Show by Al Hirschfeld. Estimate $4,000-6,000
Doyle The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore June 4, 2025
DOYLE: Annie Leibovitz presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke for Vanity Fair. Estimate $4,000-6,000
DOYLE: Al Hirschfeld presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in the CBS Wednesday Night Lineup. Estimate $4,000-6,000
DOYLE: Richard McKenzie, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore. Estimate $1,000-2,000
Doyle The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore June 4, 2025
DOYLE: Three Original Bill Hargate Costume Designs for The Mary Tyler Moore Hour. Estimate $600-800
DOYLE: The famous Bonnie and Clyde "Wanted" broadside. Estimate $500-800
DOYLE: Ticket to the Final Episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show Estimate $400-600
Sotheby's Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
5-19 June
Sotheby's Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
5-19 June
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Bissière, Roger. Cantique à notre frère soleil de saint François. 1954. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. La vie & l’œuvre de Philippe Ignace Semmelweis. 1924. Rare édition originale, avec envoi. Joint : La Quinine en thérapeutique, 1925. 4,000 - 6,000 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. Mort à crédit. 1936. Édition originale. Bel exemplaire sur Hollande. 2,500 - 3,500 EUR
Sotheby's Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
5-19 June
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Chillida, Eduardo ─ Emil Cioran. Face aux instants. 1985. Un des 100 exemplaires sur Arches. Eau-forte signée. 600 - 800 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. Ler dla canpane. L’Art Brut, 1948. Édition originale. 3,000 - 5,000 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. L'Herne Jean Dubuffet. 1973. Un des 100 exemplaires du tirage de luxe avec une sérigraphie originale en couleurs. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
One of a Kind Auctions Rare Autograph and Documents Ending May 29th, 2025
One of a Kind Auctions Rare Autograph and Documents Ending May 29th, 2025
One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: George Washington Three Language Ship's Paper West Indies Trade Voyage.
One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: An Extraordinary Archive of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry: Over 60 Historic Documents, Naval Commissions, Family Papers, and Photographic Material Spanning the 19th Century.
One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Abraham Lincoln Appointment for Vice-Consul of Russia.
One of a Kind Auctions Rare Autograph and Documents Ending May 29th, 2025
One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: John Adams Signed Mediterranean Scalloped Top ship's passport.
One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Thomas Jefferson and James Madison Signed Ships Paper.
One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Herman Melville RARE -ALS (Moby Dick Author).
One of a Kind Auctions Rare Autograph and Documents Ending May 29th, 2025
One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Apollo 10: Flown Flag and Patch Display with Crew-Signed Covers from the Collection of NASA Engineer Clark C. McClelland.
One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: James Garfield Rare Signature as President - Possibly the largest Autograph as President almost 6 inches long!
One of a Kind Auctions, May 29: Walt Disney Autograph over 7 inches in Length.
Gros & Delettrez, June 12: BIBLE, Venise 1733, reliure arménienne
Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, manuscrit XVIIe-XVIIIe siècle
Gros & Delettrez, June 12: LETTRE ENCYCLIQUE, manuscrit XIXe siècle
Gros & Delettrez, June 12: NOUVEAU TESTAMENT, Amsterdam 1668, reliure arménienne
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 29th May 2025
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 29th May 2025
Forum, May 29: Darwin (Charles). On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, first edition, John Murray, 1859. £50,000 to £70,000.
Forum, May 29: Astronomy.- Apianus (Petrus). Cosmographicus Liber a Petro Apiano Mathematico Studiose Collectus., first edition, Landshut, 1524. £40,000 to £60,000.
Forum, May 29: Bound for Jean Grolier.- Negri Stefano. Stephani Nigri Elegantissime è Graeco authorum subditorum translationes, uidelicet., first edition, first issue, Milan, 1521. £15,000 to £20,000.
Forum, May 29: Gill (Eric). Eve, number 1 of 50, hand-coloured wood-engraving, signed at foot in pencil, [1926]. £6,000 to £8,000.
Forum Auctions Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper 29th May 2025
Forum, May 29: America.- Warre (Capt. Henry James). Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory, first edition, Dickinson & Co., 1848. £25,000 to £35,000.
Forum, May 29: Wodehouse (P.G.) Psmith USA, autograph manuscript of his novel "Psmith Journalist", signed and dated at end and dated "11 November 1909, Hotel Earle, 103 Waverley Place". £15,000 to £20,000.
Forum, May 29: Women.- Wollstonecraft (Mary). A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, first edition, uncut in original boards, 1792. £6,000 to £8,000.
Forum, May 29: Mathematics.- Whitehead (Alfred North) and Bertrand Russell. Principia Mathematica, 3 vol., first editions, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1910-13. £20,000 to £30,000.
![Forum, May 29: Gill (Eric). Eve, number 1 of 50, hand-coloured wood-engraving, signed at foot in pencil, [1926]. £6,000 to £8,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/100a7a2f-6873-4f71-b65c-b0da14061a3a.png "<b>Forum, May 29:</b> Gill (Eric). Eve, number 1 of 50, hand-coloured wood-engraving, signed at foot in pencil, [1926]. £6,000 to £8,000.")
