Official Press Release

In January, Diamond Comic Distributors President and CEO Steve Geppi sold the celebrated "Pay Copy" of Marvel Comics #1 to Jay Parrino's The Mint for an unprecedented $350,000. Diamond International Galleries President John Snyder negotiated the deal with Bill Hughes and Robert Hughes, the Mint's authorized representatives for the transaction.

The price, which is twice the value listed in The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, marks a record for any copy of Marvel Comics #1. Released in 1939 by Timely Comics, and generally considered to be the cornerstone of what would become the Marvel Universe, the book features the origin of the Sub-Mariner, the introduction of the Golden Age Human Torch, as well as the first appearances of Ka-Zar, the Golden Age Angel, the Masked Rider, and the Jungle Terror.

The "Pay Copy" (so called because of notations on its pages regarding payments to the creators of each piece) was graded by the Comics Guaranty, LLC (CGC), at 9.0 (Very Fine to Near Mint). While most copies of Marvel Comics #1 were slightly misprinted, the "Pay Copy" was not, and is further distinguished by its crisp, white pages - a rarity in any Golden Age title.

"This is a beautiful book," said CGC Primary Grader Steve Borock. "The registration on the pages of this copy of Marvel Comics #1 are phenomenal. We're all in agreement that it's one of the finest known copies. It is a great piece of history and it was fantastic to be able to see and grade it."