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Description

Detective Comics #1 (DC, 1937) CGC Apparent FN+ 6.5 Moderate (A-3) Cream to off-white pages. This is a famously hard book to find in any grade -- unrestored or not! CGC has yet to grade a copy of any sort with a grade above VF+ 8.5. In our 25 years of auctions, we've encountered only three restored copies with a higher grade, and no unrestored copy with a grade above FN+ 6.5.
This was one of the first comic titles devoted to a single theme, hitting stands one year before the arrival of a certain super-powered man altered the course of the medium forever.
Also of significance: this was the comic book that DC Comics was named after. It features the first appearances of Slam Bradley and Bart Regan, aka Spy, with scripts by Jerry Siegel and story art by Joe Shuster -- the co-creators of Superman. It also contains the first appearance of Speed Saunders, with story and art by Creig Flessel. Vin Sullivan's cover features a Fu Manchu knock-off named Chin Lung. The Photo-Journal Guide to Comic Books rates this issue a "7" ("scarce"). It is currently one of Overstreet's list of Top 100 Golden Age Comic Books. CGC notes, "Restoration includes: color touch, pieces added, tear seals, spine split sealed, reinforced, staples replaced." Overstreet 2024 GD 2.0 value = $22,300; VG 4.0 value = $44,600; FN 6.0 value = $66,900.
From the James Baxter Collection.

CGC Grader Notes:
multiple crease cover

View the certification for CGC Certification ID 4680005005, including grader's notes if available and a link to the latest full census report for the issue.*

*All information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, but errors are possible. No item may be returned or refused based on this information, which is provided as a service to our clients. Feel free to contact each data source directly to determine the accuracy of this information.


More information about Detective Comics, and Detective Comics #1 Comic Title.

Auction Info

Proxy Bidding Ends 
February
26th Thursday 11:50 am CT
Auction Dates
February
26th-28th Thursday-Saturday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining 
21 Days 4h 14m 7s
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This lot is in: 1 - Signature® Floor Session - Comic Books & Pulps (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 91001-91166) - 12:00 PM Central Time, Thursday, February 26, 2026.
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Heritage Auctions - Dallas
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261

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