Images

First Marvel Comics issue sells for $1.26 million

First Marvel Comics issue sells for $1.26 million

The buyer who bought the edition at an auction in Dallas has wished to remain anonymous.
Updated 23 Nov, 2019

A rare near-mint condition copy of the first Marvel Comics comic book has sold at auction in Dallas for $1.26 million.

Heritage Auctions says the Marvel Comics No. 1 from 1939 sold Thursday. Heritage says the buyer wished to remain anonymous.

Cover of the first Marvel Comics comic book sold in Dallas, dated 1939.
Cover of the first Marvel Comics comic book sold in Dallas, dated 1939.

Ed Jaster, senior vice president at Heritage, calls it “a historic copy of a historic comic book.”

The issue features the first appearances of characters such as the Human Torch, Ka-Zar, Angel and the Sub-Mariner.

Heritage says the comic book was first purchased at a newsstand by a Uniontown, Pennsylvania, mail carrier who made a practice of buying the first issue of comic books and magazines. Jaster says that since then, the issue has only changed owners a handful of times.