Hoarder Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 Hi, I think this has been much discussed, but I remember a long ago conversation about different Superman #1 printings and how to tell them apart. Does anyone recall this? And is there a demand or value difference that is starting to emerge between the different versions? thanks Professor K 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadroch Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 I'm not aware of a different version of Superman 1. Marvel Comics 1 has two versions- different months listed on the cover. Perhaps that is what you are thinking of? If it exists, I'll be interested to learn about a second version. People here have much more knowledge than I have on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorick Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 I've read several times that there were multiple printings, but I've never seen any evidence of how they differ from one another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OtherEric Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 If I recall correctly... and I may be thinking of a different book... there were three printings of Superman #1, but only two distinct variants. One has an ad for Action Comics that says "on sale soon", or possibly a specific date. The other variant says "Now on sale". So the 1st print was obviously the first version, and the 3rd print the last, but nobody knows which version was in the 2nd printing. Hopefully somebody else can elaborate, or correct me if I'm wrong. Professor K, grendelbo, KirbyJack and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendelbo Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 Also - https://www.comics.org/issue/470/ Yorick, grendel013 and Professor K 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorick Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 So this has been known for YEARS, and CGC doesn't note it on the labels? Mmehdy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professor K Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 (edited) On 3/23/2024 at 2:42 PM, grendelbo said: Also - https://www.comics.org/issue/470/ " According to Superman: The Complete History, M.C. Gaines told Siegel and Shuster what additional content (aside from the Action reprints) to create for this issue in a letter dated 27 March 1939. The Audit Bureau of Circulation files reveals that there were three printings of this issue in 1939 (500,000 copies, 250,000 copies, and 150,000 copies) (researched by Russ Maheras). The only difference noted is in the house ad for Action Comics #14, which has either an on-sale date of "June 2nd" or just "Now on Sale" (researched by David Bachman)." Doesn't state which printings have which ad. I suppose the 1st printing, if there is one, would say On Sale June 2nd and the 3rd printing would say Now on Sale. But as far this tells us the ad in the 2nd printing is not indicated......unless I'm missing something. Wouldn't be the first time. I think if there are different printings, what the 2nd print ad states has to be verified in order to begin to differentiate printings with certainty. No matter which one it has , if the ad is to only thing to go on it would only be possible to identify 2 of the 3 printings. Edit: Just read what OtherEric posted above. Yeah what he said. Edited March 23 by Professor K OtherEric 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Professor K Posted March 23 Popular Post Share Posted March 23 On 3/23/2024 at 2:55 PM, Yorick said: So this has been known for YEARS, and CGC doesn't note it on the labels? I say we all head down to Sarasota Yorick, Math Teacher, grendelbo and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Get Marwood & I Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 On 3/23/2024 at 6:26 PM, OtherEric said: If I recall correctly... and I may be thinking of a different book... there were three printings of Superman #1, but only two distinct variants. One has an ad for Action Comics that says "on sale soon", or possibly a specific date. The other variant says "Now on sale". So the 1st print was obviously the first version, and the 3rd print the last, but nobody knows which version was in the 2nd printing. Hopefully somebody else can elaborate, or correct me if I'm wrong. The Duck from sfcity seems quite clued up on old variations and printings: I can find the same info in words everywhere, but pictures seem hard to come by. Yorick, grendelbo and Professor K 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post shadroch Posted March 23 Popular Post Share Posted March 23 Thankfully, it's both a DC and a reprint so it isn't like there is much demand for it. AJD, KirbyJack, MAR1979 and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirbyJack Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 On 3/23/2024 at 5:03 PM, shadroch said: Thankfully, it's both a DC and a reprint so it isn't like there is much demand for it. …it’s not all reprints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jimbo_7071 Posted March 24 Popular Post Share Posted March 24 On 3/23/2024 at 2:55 PM, Yorick said: So this has been known for YEARS, and CGC doesn't note it on the labels? Yes. Supposedly, some of the highest-graded copies held by influential collectors are not first editions, so there is a vested interest in not noting the distinction on the CGC labels—if you catch my drift. That's the way this hobby works. Math Teacher, aardvark88, PopKulture and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo_7071 Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 On 3/23/2024 at 3:56 PM, Professor K said: " According to Superman: The Complete History, M.C. Gaines told Siegel and Shuster what additional content (aside from the Action reprints) to create for this issue in a letter dated 27 March 1939. The Audit Bureau of Circulation files reveals that there were three printings of this issue in 1939 (500,000 copies, 250,000 copies, and 150,000 copies) (researched by Russ Maheras). The only difference noted is in the house ad for Action Comics #14, which has either an on-sale date of "June 2nd" or just "Now on Sale" (researched by David Bachman)." Doesn't state which printings have which ad. I suppose the 1st printing, if there is one, would say On Sale June 2nd and the 3rd printing would say Now on Sale. But as far this tells us the ad in the 2nd printing is not indicated......unless I'm missing something. Wouldn't be the first time. I think if there are different printings, what the 2nd print ad states has to be verified in order to begin to differentiate printings with certainty. No matter which one it has , if the ad is to only thing to go on it would only be possible to identify 2 of the 3 printings. Edit: Just read what OtherEric posted above. Yeah what he said. I another thread, it was logically argued that the 2nd printing would have likely been produced after June 2nd and should have carried the "Now on Sale" verbiage in the ad—if DC was paying attention to details—which would mean that only the copies stating "On Sale June 2nd" are first editions while all of the others are reprints. Professor K 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D84 Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 (edited) To play Devil's Advocate: Since we only know specific details of 1st and 3rd prints, but don't have those details for the 2nd print, what are they supposed to label it? First Printing (Maybe Second) Third Printing (Maybe Second) Edited March 24 by D84 KirbyJack and Professor K 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo_7071 Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 (edited) On 3/23/2024 at 8:15 PM, D84 said: To play Devil's Advocate: Since we only know specific details of 1st and 3rd prints, but don't have those details for the 2nd print, what are they supposed to label it? First Printing (Maybe Second) Third Pritung (Maybe Second) See my post above (posted a sew seconds before yours). The creator of the original thread pointed out that surveying the existing copies to see what percentage have the "On Sale June 2nd" language would allow us to draw a reasonable conclusion regarding whether the 2nd printing carried that language (which it shouldn't have, since it was likely printed after June 2nd). If that can be established, the first printing could be labeled as such, but the others could simply be labeled as reprints. After all, a first edition is a first edition—and a reprint is a reprint. Edited March 24 by jimbo_7071 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D84 Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 On 3/23/2024 at 7:18 PM, jimbo_7071 said: See my post above (posted a sew seconds before yours). The creator of the original thread pointed out that surveying the existing copies to see what percentage have the "On Sale June 2nd" language would allow us to draw a reasonable conclusion regarding whether the 2nd printing carried that language (which it shouldn't have, since it was likely printed after June 2nd). If that can be established, the first printing could be labeled as such, but the others could simply be labeled as reprints. After all, a first edition is a first edition—and a reprint is a reprint. Should have, but since we aren't completely certain, maybe it's best to leave it as is or have a notation about the ad, like June 2nd Action Comics 14 ad or On Sale Now Action Comics 14 ad? Honestly, I don't know and am just spit balling. Professor K, jimbo_7071 and AJD 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadroch Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 If we know the third printings have a different ad, just note the difference on the label. It's a book I was never interested in, and couldn't afford if I was. I've never heard this and I can understand why people aren't keen to discuss it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post woowoo Posted March 24 Popular Post Share Posted March 24 (edited) Action 13 centerfold saying Superman 1 on sale May 18th should be first print and has Action 14 add on last page the 2nd and 3rd print I been told for years does not have Action 14 on last page. This picture is from my Action 13, and it has a June 1939 cover date. My mistake they all have the Action 14. Superman 1st edition says on sale June 2nd the other 2 say on sale now. Edited March 24 by woowoo pemart1966, Get Marwood & I, BuscemasAvengers and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professor K Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 (edited) On 3/23/2024 at 8:15 PM, jimbo_7071 said: I another thread, it was logically argued that the 2nd printing would have likely been produced after June 2nd and should have carried the "Now on Sale" verbiage in the ad—if DC was paying attention to details—which would mean that only the copies stating "On Sale June 2nd" are first editions while all of the others are reprints. I haven't seen that but I was thinking the same. The most likely thing is that only the 1st prints would say On Sale June 2nd. But then again if there are 3 prints and the first prints sold like hot cakes as soon as they hit the stands a 2nd printing could have been ordered very soon after ans still said June 2nd. Unlikely but possible. I don't think we'll ever be able to be 100% sure either way. Edited March 24 by Professor K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo_7071 Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 On 3/24/2024 at 2:45 AM, Professor K said: I haven't seen that but I was thinking the same. The most likely thing is that only the 1st prints would say On Sale June 2nd. But then again if there are 3 prints and the first prints sold like hot cakes as soon as they hit the stands a 2nd printing could have been ordered very soon after and still said June 2nd. Unlikely but possible. I don't think we'll ever be able to be 100% sure either way. It's reasonable to conclude that the three printings exist in roughly the same proportions as their print runs. If only the first printing carried the "On Sale June 2nd" verbiage, then roughly 56% of existing copies should have it. If both the first and second printings have that verbiage, then roughly 84% of existing copies would have it—that's a big difference. Likewise, the percentage of copies with the "On Sale Now" verbiage would be 44% or 16%. CGC could know by now if they wanted to. If they've been recording data on that information, they haven't shared it. Professor K 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
