‘Captain America’ Debut Comic Sells for $716,750 After Nearly 80 Years in a Box

Long before ‘Captain America’ became a cornerstone of the Avengers, he was a striking piece of propaganda printed on inexpensive newsprint. His debut issue hit newsstands in December 1940, a full year prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into World War II, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The cover, illustrated by creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, is one of the most iconic in comic history. It features the hero delivering a punch to Adolf Hitler, with the Heritage Auctions listing noting that this occurred nearly a year before the U.S. entered the war.

Now, a copy of that landmark issue has garnered attention for a different reason. A copy of ‘Captain America Comics’ No. 1, which spent nearly 80 years in a cardboard box, sold for $716,750 at auction, according to NY Post.

Graded 9.0 by CGC, this comic was the top lot at Heritage Auctions’ Comic Books Signature Auction in Dallas held in late September. It originated from the Merrimack Valley Collection, a recently uncovered trove of Golden Age books that were purchased off the rack by their original owner and kept in the same box ever since.

This issue is significant as it features the first appearance and origin of Captain America and Bucky, along with the debut of the Red Skull.

Heritage’s vice president, Aaron White, remarked on the stunning condition of the books, given they spent roughly 75 to 80 years in a cardboard box. He also expressed satisfaction in seeing collectors respond positively to high-quality examples of foundational ‘Captain America’ and ‘Batman’ issues.

While the price is impressive, it does not quite break records. A near-mint copy graded CGC 9.4 sold for $3,120,000 at Heritage in April 2022, making it the fourth-most expensive comic ever sold at auction at that time.

That same copy had previously sold for $915,000 in 2019, which was a world-record price for the title, nearly doubling the previous record of $343,000 set in 2011.

Some reports indicate the final figure might be slightly higher. A syndicated report lists the Captain America sale at $722,143, while Overstreet Access reports the book hammered at $716,750.

The Merrimack Valley books performed well overall. A 2.5-graded copy of issue No. 1 fetched $159,793, while a 9.0 copy of No. 9 sold for $104,480. Additionally, a ‘Batman’ issue, ‘Detective Comics’ No. 68, brought in $478,573 for featuring Two-Face’s first cover appearance.

This sale also contributed to the auction house’s impressive totals. The comic book auction reached $8.4 million, with a separate comic art auction adding $9.7 million, bringing the combined total of the two auctions to over $18 million.

It’s clear why the character continues to command such high prices. White told Antique Trader that people are drawn to the ideals that ‘Captain America’ represents, and the character has been in near-continuous publication since 1941, inspiring generations of fans and collectors.

For a comic that spent most of its life in a box, it has turned into one of the most discussed sales of the year.

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