My first golden age book(s) was probably an Action 35 or Superman 15 around 1994. I believe the Superman 15 was first. It was heavily chipped and brittle. The Action 35 was a nice VG. I remember choosing the Action 35 over a Bat 3 (missing CF and one other wrap). They were both priced at $175 each at the time.
My first Timely was a Human Torch 4, which I got from Mike Carbonaro at Wondercon 1995. I traded him about a dozen Marvels in low grade (including a JIM 83, Avengers 1, FF5) for the Torch 4. The Torch 4 was about a FN. I think Carbo had a sticker price of $1200 or so on it.
http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/comic.php?comicid=52998