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Why wasn't Superman 1 labeled #1?

Started by Mark 1,

38 posts in this topic

Point Five

Point Five

Posted
Posted
I've never seen that CF before. Thanks for posting it.

 

Did Batman ever get a giant CF ad like this?

Detective #39 has a similar ad for Batman #1, but it's one page, not a whole CF.

 

 

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gadzukes

gadzukes

Posted
Posted
I've never seen that CF before. Thanks for posting it.

 

Did Batman ever get a giant CF ad like this?

Detective #39 has a similar ad for Batman #1, but it's one page, not a whole CF.

 

 

This Action 13 CF must be the largest advertisement for a comic in history. I've never seen one go bigger than 1 page.

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nearmint

nearmint

Posted
Posted

From David Bachman's apa mailings APA-I #63 and Interlac #103...

 

Superman #1 was not, in fact, Superman #1. It bore no number and no date (except a copy-right date), either on the cover, or in the indicia. More significantly, it bore no notice of second-class mail permit in its indicia, an item that must be carried by any publication that will be published periodically and sent to subscribers via second-class mail. The house ad in Action Comics #13 referred to it as "a big complete Superman book" rather than as a new title. And the house ad for Superman #2 in Action Comics #17 stated, "Your overwhelming approval of the first magazine has prompted us to publish this second one...." Cumulatively, these items convince me that the publication we refer to as Superman #1 was actually intended to be a one-shot publication. Its "overwhelming" success, then, apparently prompted two reactions by its publisher: (1) publication of a second printing, and (2) a decision to initiate a new quarterly title featuring only Superman stories.

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pemart1966

pemart1966

Posted
Posted

OK…I'll bite:

 

1. How do we know that there was a second printing or what prompts the theory?

 

2. Is there any way to tell a first printing from a second printing?

 

3. If the answer to 2 is "yes" is there any difference in value?

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nearmint

nearmint

Posted
Posted
OK…I'll bite:

 

1. How do we know that there was a second printing or what prompts the theory?

 

2. Is there any way to tell a first printing from a second printing?

 

3. If the answer to 2 is "yes" is there any difference in value?

 

Superman #1 had three printings. The first was 500,000, the second was 250,000, and the third was 150,000. All printings have a house ad for Action Comics #14 on the last interior page. In the first edition, the ad reads "On Sale June 2nd". In the third edition, the ad reads "On Sale Now". It hasn't been determined which variation exists in the second edition. Therefore, it's impossible to differentiate between a first and second edition of Superman #1.

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pemart1966

pemart1966

Posted
Posted
OK…I'll bite:

 

1. How do we know that there was a second printing or what prompts the theory?

 

2. Is there any way to tell a first printing from a second printing?

 

3. If the answer to 2 is "yes" is there any difference in value?

 

Superman #1 had three printings. The first was 500,000, the second was 250,000, and the third was 150,000. All printings have a house ad for Action Comics #14 on the last interior page. In the first edition, the ad reads "On Sale June 2nd". In the third edition, the ad reads "On Sale Now". It hasn't been determined which variation exists in the second edition. Therefore, it's impossible to differentiate between a first and second edition of Superman #1.

 

 

Thanks - does anyone know how far apart each of these printings was?

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nearmint

nearmint

Posted
Posted
So.... has there ever been an established value difference between 1st & 3d printings?

 

Seems like 3rd printing might pull a premium price.

 

The vast majority of copies of Supes #1 are sold slabbed. The buyer has no idea which printing they're buying, so no, I don't believe a value difference has been established.

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sacentaur

sacentaur

Posted
Posted
Seems like 3rd printing might pull a premium price.

 

If it came down to it, I don't see a lower run 3rd printing commanding any sort of premium over a larger run 1st printing. Indeed, I would expect the opposite to be true.

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october

october

Posted
Posted
OK…I'll bite:

 

1. How do we know that there was a second printing or what prompts the theory?

 

2. Is there any way to tell a first printing from a second printing?

 

3. If the answer to 2 is "yes" is there any difference in value?

 

Superman #1 had three printings. The first was 500,000, the second was 250,000, and the third was 150,000. All printings have a house ad for Action Comics #14 on the last interior page. In the first edition, the ad reads "On Sale June 2nd". In the third edition, the ad reads "On Sale Now". It hasn't been determined which variation exists in the second edition. Therefore, it's impossible to differentiate between a first and second edition of Superman #1.

 

Thanks for posting, didn't know all of those details.

 

I know Batman 1 also had multiple printings (the period and no period copies)....but I don't think I ever heard similar details to what you just posted.

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woowoo

woowoo

Posted
Posted

I have had a lot of copys of Superman 1 1979-1984 and never new to look inside for the Action 14 sale june 2nd or on sale now. I was told from Fish that there were 3 printings in 1997 when i talked to him but i took that with a grain of salt. I guess its true but its only a reprint book after all lol

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Sqeggs

Sqeggs

Posted
Posted
Seems like 3rd printing might pull a premium price.

 

If it came down to it, I don't see a lower run 3rd printing commanding any sort of premium over a larger run 1st printing. Indeed, I would expect the opposite to be true.

 

I think so, too. I would guess that if CGC were to start differentiating third printings (which, apparently, it would be possible to do) it might reduce the value of those copies. But ... the book is so hot these days, that the effect might will be small or swamped altogether by other aspects of a particular copy.

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