off white pgs; Mod (P) ct, pcs added, tr sls, cvr clnd, int. lightened, reinf1st Superman by Siegel and ShusterThe John Wise CollectionThe most important comic book in history, Action #1 stands as the introduction of the archetype of all other heroes to come as Superman transcends comics and pop culture as an icon of truth, justice, and the American way! Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman is quite possibly the most recognizable fictional character in the world. The brainchild of two struggling sci-fi fans from the Rust Belt, the Man of Steel became an instant icon to Depression-era readers and transformed into a symbol of national spirit and spunk during the brutal days of WWII. Since then, he has endured as both a beloved character and an embodiment of hope and vigor, making this first appearance not just a piece of comics' history, but of American history as well.ComicConnect has sold more copies of this historic book than all other comic dealers combined, making it the signature key of the worldwide ComicConnect brand. As one of the most important artifacts of 20th Century American pop culture, this revered milestone unfailingly elicits warm and passionate responses from collectors and fans whenever a copy is displayed in our booths at cons, or is announced for sale at auction. This striking, professionally restored, vibrant copy is sure to make waves in the international comic collectors' market. First published in the Summer of 1938, this wildly popular issue almost singlehandedly created the superhero genre, as two struggling sci-fi fans from the Midwest sold their newspaper strip idea to the content-hungry National Periodical company, hurriedly pasting their already-created daily strips into an ad hoc comic book feature, never suspecting the almost instant mania for the character that would ensue. Although originally published in the hundreds of thousands, the drive for paper during WWII, overzealous parents, and the ravages of time combined to whittle down the number of known surviving copies to an astonishing less than two hundred. This rarity, combined with the overwhelming love and demand for this historic publication, makes Action Comics 1 one of the most treasured and respected collectibles in any field. As one of the preeminent collectors of comics for nearly half a century, it's no surprise that a copy of this vital book is the cornerstone of John Wise's extraordinary collection. We are proud and delighted to offer this issue in this incredible auction.Overstreet Guide 2013 F/VF (7.0) value = $615,000.If you are a new customer planning to make a first-time purchase over $25,000, please contact us at 212.895.3999 or support@comicconnect.com so that we may approve your account for bidding. (This policy was instituted to protect consignors and bidders against bids from fraudulent accounts, and to ensure the integrity of the bidding process.).We realize many of you would like to bid on this auction lot, so for this listing, ComicConnect.com offers a 6 month, interest free, time payment plan with a 20% non-refundable deposit. Time Payments invoices can only be paid by cash, check, money order or wire transfer. LEARN MORE Joseph Shuster was a Canadian-American comic book artist best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, in Action Comics #1.American comic book artist and co creator of DC characters the Spectre and Hourman.