Breaking Records, CGC-graded Detective Comics #27 Sells for $1.5 Million

A copy of Detective Comics #27 graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) realized $1.5 million at a Heritage Auctions sale on November 19, 2020. Graded CGC 7.0, it was the highest-graded copy of Batman's first appearance to come to auction in years.

Detective Comics #27, graded CGC 7.0. Realized: $1.5 million Click image to enlarge.

The sale set several records, including the highest price paid at auction for any comic book outside of Action Comics #1. It is also the most-expensive comic book ever sold by Heritage Auctions.

Detective Comics #27 introduced Batman to the world in May 1939, during the Golden Age of comic books. The CGC Census reports 32 copies of Detective Comics #27 in Universal grade, including one graded CGC 9.2, two graded CGC 8.0, two graded CGC 7.5 and two graded CGC 7.0. The CGC Census also reports 36 in Restored and 1 in Qualified.

In 2010, a Detective Comics #27 graded CGC 8.0 realized $1.075 million at a Heritage Auctions sale, becoming the first book to realize more than $1 million at auction.

It was eclipsed in recent years by Action Comics #1, Superman's debut in June 1938. A copy graded CGC 9.0 realized $3.207 million in an eBay sale in August 2014. Another copy, this one graded CGC 8.5, realized $2.052 million in a ComicConnect sale in June 2018.

CGC is the world's largest and most trusted third-party grading service for comics, trading cards, magazines, concert posters and similar items, with more than 7 million collectibles certified since 2000.