Top 100 Most Valuable Comic Books of the
Golden Age in 2024

2024 Prices: The 100 Most Valuable Comic Books from Each Age

This page will deal with the most valuable of all, Golden Age comic books.

We will say that the Golden Age begins in 1938 and ends in 1956, when the Silver Age began.

Here are links to the other eras:

• the Silver Age 
• the Bronze Age 
• the Copper Age 
• the Modern Age

Top 20 Most Valuable Comic Books From the Golden Age

1. Action Comics #1 $6M
2. Superman #1 $5.3M
3. Captain America Comics #1 $3.12M
   
4. Marvel Comics #1 $2.42M
5. Batman #1 $2.2M
6. Detective Comics #27 $2.1M
7. All-Star Comics #8 $1.62M
8. Phantom Lady #17 $456,000
9. Detective Comics #140 $456,000
10. Flash Comics #1 $450,000
11. Sensation Comics #1 $399,000
12. Whiz Comics #1 $385,000
13. Pep Comics #22 $375,000
14. All-Star Comics #3 $358,800
15. Detective Comics #168 $324,000
16. Wonder Woman #1 $291,000
17. Detective Comics #33 $288,000
18. Detective Comics #29 $276,000
19. More Fun Comics #52 $264,000
20. More Fun Comics #55 $264,000

The full top 100 starts below!

1) Action Comics #1, World Record First Appearance of Superman

Action Comics #1 (June 1938)
Origin and First Appearance of Superman

Record sale: $6M
Minimum value: $250,000
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Read our Action Comics price guide

2) Superman #1, First Solo Superman Comic

Superman #1 (Jun 1939)
First Solo Comic

Record sale: $5,300,000
Minimum value: $90,000
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Superman Comics price guide

3) Captain America Comics #1, First Cap and Bucky Appearance

Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941)
Origin and First Appearance of Captain America

Record sale: $3,120,000
Minimum value: $10,000

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Read our Captain America Comics price guide

4) Marvel Comics #1, First Ever Marvel Comic Book

Marvel Comics #1 (October 1939)
Origin and First Appearance, Human Torch, The Angel

Record sale: $2,427,000
Minimum value: $130,000

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Read our Marvel (Mystery) Comics price guide

5) Batman #1, First Solo Batman Comic

Batman #1 (Apr 1940)
First Appearance, Joker, Catwoman

Record sale: $2,220,000
Minimum value: $70,000

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The new record sale was a CGC 9.4, the single highest graded example! It sold in January 2021.

6) Detective Comics #27, First Appearance of Batman

Detective Comics #27 (May 1939)
First Appearance of Batman

Record sale: $2,100,000
Minimum value: $200,000

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More Batman comic book prices

7) All-Star Comics #8, First Wonder Woman Appearance

All-Star Comics #8 (December 1941)
Origin and First Appearance, Wonder Woman

Record sale: $1,620,000
Minimum value: $10,000

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Read our Wonder Woman comics price guide

8) Phantom Lady #17, Classic Matt Baker Cover

Phantom Lady #17
Classic 'headlights' Matt Baker cover

Record Sale: $456,000
Minimum Value: $3,000

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9) Detective Comics #140, 1st Riddler

Detective Comics #140
First appearance of Riddler

Record Sale: $456,000
Minimum Value: $3,500

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10) Flash Comics #1, First Flash Appearance

Flash Comics #1 (Jan 1940)
Origin and First Appearance of The Flash (Jay Garrick),
Hawkman (Carter Hall), Johnny Thunder

Record sale: $450,000
Minimum value: $9,000

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Read our Flash Comics price guide

Most Valuable Comic Books of the Golden Age #11-25

11) Sensation Comics #1, First Wonder Woman Cover

Sensation Comics #1 (Jan 1942)
Second Appearance of Wonder Woman, First Cover

Record sale: $450,000
Minimum value: $5,000

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See our Sensation Comics Price Guide

12) Whiz Comics #1, 1st Appearance of Captain Marvel

Whiz Comics #1 (#2) (February 1940)
Origin and First Appearance, Captain Marvel

Record sale: $385,000
Minimum value: $12,000

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Captain Marvel Comics Price Guide

13) PEP Comics #22, 1st Appearance of Archie Andrews

Pep Comics #22 (Dec 1941)
First Appearance of Archie, Betty and Jughead

Record sale: $375,000
Minimum value: $28,000

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Archie Comics price guide

Surprised to see Archie in the top 20 most valuable comic books? So were we!

14) All-Star Comics #3, 1st Justice Society of America

All-Star Comics #3 (November 1940)
Origin and first appearance, Justice Society of America

Record sale: $358,800
Minimum value: $3,000

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Read our Justice Society of America price guide

15) Detective Comics #168, Origin of Joker

Detective Comics #168
Origin of Joker / Red Hood

Record Sale: $324,000
Minimum Value: $3,300

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16) Wonder Woman #1, Origin and First Solo Comic

 Wonder Woman #1 (Jun 1942)
First Solo Comic, Origin of Wonder Woman

Record sale: $291,000
Minimum value: $11,100

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17) Detective Comics #33, 1st Detailed Origin of Batman

Detective Comics #33 (Nov 1939)
Origin of Batman

Record sale: $288,000
Minimum value: $17,210

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18) Detective Comics #29, 3rd Batman, 2nd Cover Appearance

Detective Comics #29 (Jul 1939)
Second Cover Appearance of Batman, Third Total Appearance
One of the most valuable comic books featuring Batman

Record sale: $276,000
Minimum value: $6,100

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19) More Fun Comics #52, First Appearance of Spectre

More Fun Comics #52 (Feb 1940)
First Appearance of Spectre

Record sale: $264,000
Minimum value: $16,500

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20) More Fun Comics #55, 1st Doctor Fate

More Fun Comics #55
First appearance of Doctor Fate

Record Sale: $264,000
Minimum Value: $1,200

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21) Action Comics #10, 3rd Superman Cover

Action Comics #10 (Mar 1939)
Third Superman Cover Appearance

Record sale: $258,000
Minimum value: $8,000

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Superman Comics price guide

22) Fantastic Comics #3, Classic Robot Cover by Lou Fine

Fantastic Comics #3
Classic Lou Fine robot cover

Record Sale: $243,000
Minimum Value: $9,260

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Don't Miss the 175 Most Valuable Comic Books of the Silver Age!

23) All-American Comics #16, First Appearance of Green Lantern

All-American Comics #16 (July 1940)
Origin and First Appearance, Green Lantern (Alan Scott)

Record sale: $215,100
Minimum value: $10,000

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Green Lantern comic books prices

24) Punch Comics #12, Classic Pre-Code Horror Cover

Punch Comics #12
Classic skull cover

Record Sale: $204,000
Minimum Value: $2,000

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A member of the gallery of the Best Horror Comics ever!

25) Action Comics #7, Second Superman Cover

Action Comics #7 (December 1938)
Second Superman cover

Record sale: $204,000
Minimum value: $27,600

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Read our Rare Comic Book price guide

Most Valuable Comics of the Golden Age 26-50

26) More Fun Comics #73, 1st Aquaman, Green Arrow

More Fun Comics #73 (Nov 1941)
Origin and First Appearance, Aquaman, Green Arrow and Speedy

Record sale: $192,000
Minimum value: $3,000

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27) Detective Comics #31, Classic Cover, 3rd Batman Cover

Detective Comics #31 (Sep 1939)
Third Cover Appearance of Batman, Fifth Total Appearance, Classic cover

Record sale: $175,000
Minimum value: $18,000

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28) Suspense Comics #3, Classic Horror Cover

Suspense Comics #3 (1944)
Rare, Controversial Cover

Record sale: $173,000
Minimum value: $3,000

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29) Adventure Comics #48, 1st Hour-Man

Adventure Comics #48 (Mar 1940)
First Appearance, Hour-Man

Record sale: $168,000
Minimum value: $2,500

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30) Archie Comics #1, First Solo Title

Archie Comics #1 (January 1942)
Scarce to rare; First Issue
Another Archie on the most valuable comic books list!

Record sale: $167,000
Minimum value: $9,000

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31) Action Comics #13, 4th Superman Cover

Action Comics #13 (Jun 1939):
Fourth Superman Cover Appearance

Record sale: $166,000
Minimum value: $13,400

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32) Sub-Mariner Comics #1

Sub-Mariner Comics #1 (Fall 1941)
First Solo Comic

Record sale: $144,000
Minimum value: $2,900

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33) More Fun Comics #53, 2nd Spectre

More Fun Comics #53 (Mar 1940)
Second Appearance of Spectre

Record sale: $141,000
Minimum value: $8,500

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34) Detective Comics #225, 1st Martian Manhunter

Detective Comics #225
Origin and first appearance of J'onn J'onzz, Martian Manhunter

Record Sale: $138,000
Minimum Value: $1,000

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35) All-American Comics #61, 1st Solomon Grundy

All-American Comics #61
First appearance of Solomon Grundy

Record Sale: $138,000
Minimum Value: $3,000

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36) Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #1

Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #1

Record Sale: $116,500
Minimum Value: $1,000

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For more of the most valuable comic books featuring Disney characters, click for our Disney comic books price guide.

Click Here to Get Your Free Appraisal or Consign Your Books to Auction!

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Is There Treasure in YOUR Attic?

We unearthed this never-before-offered copy of Action Comics #7.
Only the second time Superman appeared on a comic book cover.

We paid $40,000 for this book!

What do YOU have in your attic or basement?

Click Here to Get Your Free Appraisal or Consign Your Books to Auction!

37) Detective Comics #1, Rare!

Detective Comics #1 (Mar 1937)
First Issue in Series, very rare (only 17 Universal copies certified)

Record sale: $108,000
Minimum value: $5,000

Have yours appraised

40) Marvel Mystery Comics #9, Classic Cover

Marvel Mystery Comics #9
Classic Sub-Mariner vs Human Torch cover

Record Sale: $107,000
Minimum Value: $2,850

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41) Captain America Comics #2, Hitler Cover

Captain America Comics #2
Hitler cover; 2nd Cap appearance

Record Sale: $103,000
Minimum Value: $2,500

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42) MAD #1, 1st in Classic Satire Series

MAD Comics #1 (Oct 1952)
EC, First Issue in Series

Record sale: $96,000
Minimum value: $500

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MAD Magazine / Comics Values

43) Action Comics #2, Second Appearance of Superman

Action Comics #2 (Jul 1938)
Second Appearance of Superman

Record sale: $95,000
Minimum value: $6,900

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46) Captain America Comics #3, 1st Stan Lee Work for Marvel

Captain America Comics #3
Classic Red Skull cover; Stan Lee's first work for Marvel

Record Sale: $90,000
Minimum Value: $2,500

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49) Adventure Comics #40, 1st Appearance of Sandman

Adventure Comics #40 (Jul 1939)
First Appearance of Sandman

Record sale: $81,000
Minimum value: $10,160

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Value of Key Adventure Comics

50) Seven Seas #4, Classic Matt Baker Cover

Seven Seas #4
Classic Matt Baker cover

Record Sale: $81,000
Minimum Value: $4,000

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Most Valuable Comic Books of the Golden Age #51-75

51) Action Comics #19, Classic WWII Cover

Action Comics #19
Superman WWII cover

Record Sale: $79,000
Minimum Value: $350

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Don't Miss the 175 Most Valuable Comic Books of the Silver Age!

52) Four Color Comics #16, Rare Mickey Mouse Comic

Four Color Comics V1 #16
Mickey Mouse; rare

Record sale: $78,000
Minimum value: $1,000

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53) Detective Comics #62, Classic Joker Cover

Detective Comics #62
Classic Joker cover

Record Sale: $77,000
Minimum Value: $1,000

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54) Red Raven #1, Rare!

Red Raven Comics #1

Record Sale: $74,600
Minimum Value: $2000

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55) Action Comics #23, 1st Lex Luthor

Action Comics #23
1st Appearance of Lex Luthor

Record sale: $72,000
Minimum value: $2,000

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56) Detective Comics #32, Batman Uses a Gun

Detective Comics #32
Batman is first costumed hero to use a gun, kills two villains

Record Sale: $71,700
Minimum Value: $500

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57) Amazing-Man Comics #22, Classic Cover

Amazing-Man Comics #22
Classic cover; Hitler appearance

Record Sale: $69,000
Minimum Value: $5,700

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58) Wonder Comics #1, Only Appearance of Wonder-Man

Wonder Comics #1 (Mar 1939)
Origin and First Appearance, Wonder-Man (Only Appearance)

Record sale: $68,000
Minimum value: $1,500

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61) Batman #11, Classic Joker Cover

Batman Comics #11
Classic Joker cover

Record Sale: $65,725
Minimum Value: $1,500

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62) Detective Comics #36, 1st Hugo Strange

Detective Comics #36 (Feb 1940)
First Appearance, Hugo Strange

Record sale: $65,500
Minimum value: $5,000

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63) All-Select Comics #1, Classic Timely

All-Select Comics #1 (Fall 1943)
Timely, First Issue in Series

Record sale: $63,500
Minimum value: $900

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64) Detective Comics #37, Last pre-Robin Batman

Detective Comics #37 (Mar 1940)
Last solo Batman adventure

Record sale: $63,000
Minimum value: $2,500

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65) Batman #2, 2nd Joker and Catwoman

Batman #2 (Jul 1940)
Second Appearance of Joker, Catwoman

Record sale: $63,000
Minimum value: $800

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70) Amazing-Man Comics #5, 1st Amazing Man

Amazing-Man Comics #5 (Sep 1939)
First Appearance, Amazing-Man

Record sale: $56,800
Minimum value: $1,200

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71) More Fun Comics #101, 1st Superboy

More Fun Comics #101 (Jan 1945)
Origin and First Appearance, Superboy

Record sale: $55,200
Minimum value: $300

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72) Action Comics #3, 3rd Superman

Action Comics #3 (Aug 1938)
3rd Superman Appearance

Record sale: $55,000
Minimum value: $5,860

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73) Marvel Mystery Comics #2

Marvel Mystery Comics #2 (Dec 1939)
Second Appearance of Human Torch, Namor and Angel

Record sale: $55,000
Minimum value: $1,000

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74) All-Star Comics #1

All-Star Comics #1

Record Sale: $54,625
Minimum Value: $2,000

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75) All-American Comics #19, 1st Golden Age Atom

All-American Comics #19
First appearance of Golden Age Atom

Record Sale: $51,375
Minimum Value: $2,000

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See our All-American Comics Price Guide here

76) Marvel Mystery Comics #4, 1st Golden Age Electro

Marvel Mystery Comics #4
First appearance of Golden Age Electro

Record Sale: $50,750
Minimum Value: $1,800

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Don't Miss the 175 Most Valuable Comic Books of the Silver Age!

Most Valuable Comic Books of the Golden Age #76-100

If you find one of these most valuable comic books, don't hesitate!

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79) Detective Comics #40, 1st Clayface

Detective Comics #40
Origin and first appearance of Clayface

Record Sale: $45,600
Minimum Value: $1,000

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80) Batman #3, 1st Puppet Master

Batman #3
First Catwoman appearance in costume, first appearance of Puppet Master

Record Sale: $43,200
Minimum Value: $3,700

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81) Motion Picture Funnies Weekly, 1st Sub-Mariner

Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1
Extremely rare; only eight copies known to exist (three are restored);
Origin and First appearance of Sub-Mariner

Record Sale: $43,125
Minimum Value: $10,300

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82) Marvel Mystery Comics #10

Marvel Mystery Comics #10

Record Sale: $42,250
Minimum Value: $1,750

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83) More Fun Comics #54

More Fun Comics #54 (Apr 1940)
Spectre Story

Record sale: $41,600
Minimum value: $800

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84) Action Comics #6, 1st Jimmy Olsen

Action Comics #6
1st Appearance of Jimmy Olsen

Record sale: $40,000
Minimum value: $4,000

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85) Double Action Comics, Very Rare!

Double Action Comics #2
Very rare; only eight copies known; copy of Adventure Comics #37 cover

Record Sale: $37,000 (unverified)
Minimum Value: $?

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86) All-Winners #19, 1st All-Winners Squad

All-Winners Comics #19 (Fall 1946)
First Appearance of the All-Winners Squad

Record sale: $36,000
Minimum value: $1,200

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87) Prize Comics #7, 1st Green Lama

Prize Comics #7
Origin and first appearance of The Green Lama

Record Sale: $35,000
Minimum Value: $1,800

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90) Jumbo Comics #1, 1st Sheena, Queen of the Jungle

Jumbo Comics #1 (1938)
1st appearance of Sheena, Queen of the Jungle

Record Sale: $33,000 (unverified)
Minimum Value: $?

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91) Detective Comics #2, Very Rare!

Detective Comics #2
Creig Flessel covers begin

Record Sale: $32,400
Minimum Value: $7,100

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92) Action Comics #5, 5th Superman

Action Comics #5

Record Sale: $31,200
Minimum Value: $1,000

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93) Superman #3

Superman #3
Reprints second story from Action #5

Record Sale: $30,500
Minimum Value: $1,000

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94) Four Color #386, 1st Uncle Scrooge

Four Color #386
First dedicated Uncle Scrooge comic

Record Sale: $26,300
Minimum Value: $100

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95) Mystic Comics #1

Mystic Comics #1 (Mar 1940)
First Appearance of Flexo and Blue Blaze

Record sale: $25,400
Minimum value: $1,000

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96) New York World's Fair 1939

New York World's Fair Comic 1939

Record Sale: $25,300
Minimum Value: $1,700

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99) Famous Funnies #1, First Public Comic Book

Famous Funnies #1 (1934)
First comic book sold to the public

Record Sale: $25,000
Minimum Value: $3,000

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100) Silver Streak Comics #6, Classic Cover

Silver Streak Comics #6
Origin and First appearance of GA Daredevil; classic Cole Claw cover

Record Sale: $22,500
Minimum Value: $1,400

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Don't Miss the 175 Most Valuable Comic Books of the Silver Age!

Most Valuable Comic Books From Other Eras

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