A uncommon copy of the comedian e-book that launched the world to Superman and likewise was as soon as stolen from the house of actor Nicolas Cage has been bought for a report $15 million.
The non-public deal for “Motion Comics No. 1” was introduced Friday. It eclipses the earlier report worth for a comic book e-book, set final November when a replica of “Superman No. 1″ was at bought at public sale for $9.12 million.
The Motion Comics sale was negotiated by Manhattan-based Metropolis Collectibles/Comedian Join, which stated the comedian e-book’s proprietor and the customer wished to stay nameless.
The comedian — which bought for 10 cents when it got here out in 1938 — was an anthology of tales about largely now little-known characters. However over a number of panels, it informed the origin story of Superman’s start on a dying planet, his journey to Earth and his determination as an grownup to “flip his titanic power into channels that may profit mankind.”
Its publication marked the start of the superhero style. About 100 copies of Motion Comics No. 1 are identified to exist, in accordance with Metropolis Collectibles/Comedian Join President Vincent Zurzolo.
“That is among the many Holy Grail of comedian books. With out Superman and his reputation, there can be no Batman or different superhero comedian e-book legends,” Zurzolo stated. “It’s significance within the comedian e-book group reveals along with his deal, because it obliterates the earlier report,” Zurzolo stated.
The comedian e-book was stolen from Cage’s Los Angeles dwelling in 2000 however was recovered in 2011 when it was discovered by a person who had bought the contents of an previous storage locker in southern California. It will definitely was returned to Cage, who had purchased it in 1996 for $150,000. Six months after it was returned to him, he bought it at public sale for $2.2 million.
Stephen Fishler, CEO of Metropolis Collectibles/Comedian Join, stated the theft finally performed an enormous function in boosting the comedian’s worth.
“Throughout that 11-year interval (it was lacking), it skyrocketed in worth.,” Fishler stated “The thief made Nicolas Cage some huge cash by stealing it.”
Fishler in contrast it to the theft of Mona Lisa, which was stolen from the Louvre museum in Paris in 1911.
“It was saved underneath the thief’s mattress for 2 years,” Fishler famous. “The restoration of the portray made the Mona Lisa go from being only a nice Da Vinci portray to a world icon — and that’s what Motion No. 1 is — an icon of American popular culture.”
