First-ever Marvel comic nabs a whopping $2.4M at auction

nypost.com:

NEW YORK — A particularly prized copy of the first-ever Marvel comic book fetched more than $2.4 million in an online auction, the auctioneer said Friday.Known as the Marvel Comics #1 “pay copy,” it’s “arguably one of the top three comic books in the world of comics collecting,” said Vincent Zurzolo, chief operating officer of ComicConnect.

The New York-based auctioneer sold the book Thursday night for a bit under $2,427,800.The buyer’s name has not been disclosed.

He is “an extremely passionate comic book collector and investor” who also collects other items, Zurzolo said.Published in 1939, Marvel Comics #1 introduced characters including Sub-Mariner and the original Human Torch, a precursor of the character of the same name that was later a member of Marvel’s Fantastic Four.

The book launched what became the Marvel universe of comics, movies, TV shows and video games.The very well-preserved “pay copy” is especially sought-after because it bears the publisher’s handwritten notes recording how much the multiple writers and artists were paid.