Man Auctions Copy of First Batman Comic Ever, Which He Bought for 10¢ in 1939

At the age of thirteen, Robert Irwin bought Detective Comics #27 from a newstand for ten cents.  And though he and his brother collected and discarded hundreds of comics, that one issue was the only one he kept.  Why?

“I don’t know,” he said. “I must have just liked the cover.”

Mr. Irwin rediscovered his copy six years ago, but did not immediately sell it, even though he was offered $100,000.  When another copy of the comic sold for more than $1 million earlier this year, he decided to make his move.

That waiting has paid off: his copy has been valued at $400,000, and bids on the Heritage auction have already reached that marker, with bidding still open until Thursday. Which gives him a percentage return on his investment that’s… nine digits long.

Irwin’s copy has been graded at 7.0 by the Certified Guaranty Company, a rating (out of 10) that corresponds to Fine/Very Fine.  Despite how optimistic that sounds, it is precisely because the comic is not really in mint condition that it has not been valued up there with the $1 million+ auctions of Detective Comics #27 and Action Comics #1, for example.

Let this be a final lesson to all of us: Don’t.  Ever.  Let your parents throw out your comics.

(via Comic Book Resources.)