Superman’s debut comic published in 1938 sells for almost $1m at auction

Action Comics No 1, bearing a cover price of 10 cents, sells for way above its estimate at auction

A copy of Action Comics No 1, featuring Superman, sold for almost $1m

A rare copy of Superman's 1938 comic-book debut sold at auction for almost $1 million.

In a statement, Dallas-based Heritage Auctions said the copy of Action Comics No 1, bearing a cover price of 10 cents, sold Thursday for $956,000.

It is one of about 100 copies of the edition known to exist.

And it wasn't even in tip top condition. Certified Guaranty Co graded the copy 5.5 out of a possible 10.

It had been expected to sell for about $750,000. Heritage says the copy came from the collection of an unidentified East Coast comic book fan who had bought it in the 1990s for $26,000.

Spokesman Eric Bradley says the winning bidder also did not wish to be identified.

A $2 million mint edition, once stolen from the collection of Nicholas Cage, went on display in London earlier this year.

It is the most valuable item in the 1,000-strong DC Comics collection of Ayman Hariri, the billionaire son of assassinated Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.