Exhibit A: Action Comics #1

One of the great things about collecting comics is that, no matter how much you think you know about a certain topic, some new bit of information always seems to come along.

The latest mini-bombshell concerns Action Comics #1, which featured the first appearance of Superman...thereby making it the most high-profile, valuable, and exhaustively-discussed comic book in existence. However, just when I thought I knew all there was to know about the "Big Bang" of superhero comics, along came an interesting article posted at The Scoop. 

Sponsored by Gemstone Publications and Diamond International Galleries, The Scoop covers the current comics scene as well as comics history, original art, and memorabilia. A recent post titled "Action Comics #1- A Legal Issue?" brought to light the existence of a very unique copy of the famous comic book. 

You see, in the wake of Superman's ultra-popular debut, a boatload of copycat characters started popping up...one of which was Wonder Man, published by the notoriously shifty Victor Fox and (reluctantly) created by Jerry Iger and Will Eisner. DC and their team of lawyers promptly began what would become the very first copyright infringement suit to protect their Superman character.

As part of their successful lawsuit, DC submitted a copy of Action Comics #1 as one of its key pieces of evidence (along with Eisner's testimony). Stamped by the Federal Court on both March 16th and April 6th of 1939, here's a look at the cover of this extremely unique and amazingly well-preserved comic book:

 (click on the image for a larger view)

Curiously, the article didn't mention where this copy is today. I sent an email to the Scoop to learn if it's still in possession of the Federal Court or with a private owner...and how much something like this might be worth on the collector's market.  Care to take any guesses?  High six figures....seven figures? I hope I hear back from them!  Click here to read the entire article at The Scoop.

UPDATE: Well, one aspect of the mystery has been solved. According to my pal Allen, the court exhibit copy of Action Comics #1 has indeed passed into the private market and is now on display at the Geppi Entertainment Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Allen took this photo in 2007 and has graciously allowed me to post it here.  Thanks, Allen!

   

You'll note that there's also a stamped copy of Action Comics #2 displayed next to it, and is most likely another exhibit submitted by DC's lawyers back in '39.  

Now that we know where the court copy is, all I need to know now is how much that baby is worth!  I can't imagine there are many copies in better condition than this one...so it's gotta be worth a "kingly sum".  Stay tuned! 

Comments

[Pat Curley]

Yeah, seems like he left the most important information out of the article. He says that the copy still exists, but doesn't tell us who owns it or what it last sold for.

[Richard]

Perhaps the owner didn't want to be identified.

That's quite common with hugely valuable objects like this.

[Mark Engblom]

I wasn't necessarily looking for a name...it just would have been nice to know if it was still filed as a federal exhibit or if it had passed into the private market. What a fascinating piece of history...and a pity the story wasn't completely told. I'll be sure to pass along any new details if I hear back from the Scoop.

[Allen]

I believe it's the copy kept in Geppi's Entertainment Museum here in Baltimore. It was kept in files with court papers for many years; hence its good condition.

I just looked through my photos and have confirmed it; I took this back in September 2007 there. Note that the copy of Action #2 next to it also has the same markings: http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p45/peteross/covers/GeppisAction1and2.jpg

[Mark Engblom]

Wow...thanks, Allen! Great to know it's somewhere people can see it and not tucked away in some government office file cabinet.

I can always count on my readers to come through with the info!

[zubzwank]

This is interesting. How long must evidence be maintained as such and then how does something valuable like this move to the market?

Can any court clerk go to a file after the expiration of its necessity as evidence and remove things?

What else is there in court files? Movie stuff? Disney? Music things? Remember George Harrison getting sued for "My Sweet Lord?"

What about the evidence from the Captain Marvel vs. Superman lawsuit?

[Charlie]

This issue is interestingly discussed in the novel "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" by Michael Chabon. In which a publisher demands two creaters to "give [him] a Superman!".

A cool book, worth reading for any classic comic fan.

Wonderful blog, btw. One of my favorites!