Dear Editor: When Action Comics #1 was $100

It's common knowledge that Action Comics #1 (featuring the first appearance of Superman) is not only the most important comic book ever published, but also the most valuable. The 2008 Overstreet Price Guide places its value between $42,000 in rougher shape and a whopping $475,000 for tip-top "Near Mint" condition, but in many cases has sold for much more than that.

However, this "Holy Grail" of comic books hasn't always listed in the five figures-plus range...as you can see from this letter written by Guy Lillian, printed in Superman #192 (1967):

(click on the excerpts for a larger view)

Catch that? A copy of Action Comics #1 for the kingly sum of $100! Granted, $100 would be the equivalent to roughly $750 today...but that still makes an utterly unthinkable purchase actually seem within reach.

Ah, but poor Guy....the lucky owner of the comic book shut him down when it came to taking a peek at the interior, showing that even then the fussy condition-mongers were already starting to deny access of Action #1 to mere mortals...which is today only glimpsed from afar through nuclear blast-proof plastic.

Guy, taking the rejection in stride, goes on to comment upon Superman #190, which got high marks for what it didn't have...

In the spirit of Guy's closing remarks, may Supie's next 70 years be just as great (though not necessarily romance-free).

Comments

[Johnny Bacardi]

Guy Lillian was one of the more celebrated letterhacks back in the day, post-Bails and Roy Thomas- he was always getting letters printed in tons of comics in the late 60's-70s, if memory serves...

[Pat Curley]

Yep, and almost every time he wrote in, the editor talked about he was their "Favorite Guy".

[Mark Engblom]

I thought that name rang a bell. Thanks for the info!

[Scott Edelman]

When I was in the audience for the auction held at Phil Seuling's 1970 Comic Art Convention, a pristine copy of Action #1 failed to get an opening minimum bid of $325.

[aint i so smart]

damn, imagine i went back in time and loaned you 325 bucks, and told you see me in the future, well split the profits....i would then proceed to bet someone a million dollars i would never see you again and make even more money :)