CBC News
Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

Holy collectibles, Batman! Rare copy of DC 27 found in attic

Thursday, October 11, 2007 | 03:53 PM ET

The Associated Press

A near-mint copy of Detective Comics No. 27, a pre-Second World War comic featuring Batman's debut, was recently found in an attic and sold to a local collector in Ellwood City, Pa.

The comic is considered to be the second-most valuable available and can fetch up to $500,000 US. The only comic considered more valuable is Action Comics No. 1, in which Superman makes his first appearance.

Collector Todd McDevitt said the Batman issue he bought is worth about $250,000 US, but he won't say exactly how much he paid or who sold it to him.

"It was a typical story of someone cleaning up junk in their attic and finding an old comic book and wondering if this was one of those ones that was worth a lot of money," McDevitt told the Beaver County Times.

McDevitt, owner of the Pittsburgh region's five New Dimension Comics stores, said he has been saving money since 1986 so that he could buy a valuable comic when it appeared.

When the seller walked in with the Batman issue, "my eyes almost popped out of my head," McDevitt said.
"I guess I should have been more reserved, but I'm not a very good poker player," he said.

Experts estimate there are between 20 and a few hundred copies of the Batman debut.

McDevitt's comic now sits safely in an airtight bag in a bank vault. On occasion, he takes it out to show friends and customers.

"I've been toying with the idea of reading it, but I haven't yet," he said. "I'm going to savour it."

« Previous Topic | Main | Next Topic »

Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

World »

Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal video
The Vatican has confirmed that the Pope's butler was arrested earlier in the week in connection with an embarrassing document leaks scandal.
Syrian children massacred by the dozens, UN says video
More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming at least 32 children and 60 adults were killed in an artillery attack.
Egypt's polarizing presidential candidates reach out
A spokesman for the third-place finisher in Egypt's presidential race has called for a partial vote recount, citing violations.
more »

Canada »

Montreal protesters march in peaceful defiance video
The clanging of pots and pans sounded throughout Montreal's downtown core Saturday night and into early Sunday morning, as thousands of protesters marched on in peaceful — but loud — defiance of Bill 78.
Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
The victim of a Friday lightning strike during a storm in east Ottawa has died, CBC News has learned.
Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico
Two Winnipeg children reported missing and possibly in Mexico have been found alive, according to unofficial reports from an agency that works to find missing people.
more »

Politics »

N.L. premier 'at odds' with Peter MacKay audio
Kathy Dunderdale, the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, tells CBC Radio's Evan Solomon she's growing increasingly 'at odds' with Conservative MP Peter MacKay.
Quebec students ready for tuition hike, says one leader audio
The president of Quebec's College Student Federation (FECQ), Leo Bureau-Blouin, tells CBC Radio's The House that students "are ready for a compromise on the amount of a tuition hike," as the Quebec government and the province's student associations prepare to resume talks.
Dunderdale calls lack of EI consultation 'disturbing' video
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale says the federal government's planned overhaul of the employment insurance regime shows it is out of touch with unemployed Canadians.
more »

Health »

Chronic fatigue may be reversed with exercise
Taking it easy is not the best treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, rather exercise and behaviour therapy are, a large study finds.
AT&T buys T-Mobile USA for $39B US
AT&T Inc. said Sunday it will buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom AG in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $39 billion US, becoming the largest cellphone company in the U.S.
Milky Way home to 50 billion planets: NASA
Scientists have compiled the first cosmic census of planets in our galaxy: at least 50 billion planets are estimated to call the Milky Way home.
more »

Arts & Entertainment»

video Gay characters' screen presence evolves video
New films and TV shows are addressing a new frontier in pop culture: gay characters whose narratives aren't limited to 'coming-out stories,' Deana Sumanac reports.
new Sweden defeats Russian grannies in Eurovision song contest video
Sweden's Loreen clinches the top spot at this year's Eurovision Song Contest with her dance hit Euphoria, pushing aside competition from a sextet of Russian grannies and a Serbian balladeer.
audio Seniors float above Montreal's Quartier Latin
In Montreal this weekend, an unusual performance series will have seniors indulging in their favourite hobbies, but perched on chairs suspended five metres above the ground.
more »

Technology & Science »

Astronauts enter world's 1st private supply ship video
Astronauts have entered the Dragon, the world's first commercial supply ship, which is docked at the International Space Station.
South Africa, Australia to share world's largest telescope
South Africa and Australia will jointly host the Square Kilometre Array, which promises to be the world's largest telescope, the international consortium in charge of the project said Friday.
Bonavista, N.L., 'coyote' was really wolf, tests confirm
Wolves have not been seen in Newfoundland since around 1930 and were believed to have been hunted to extinction on the island, but genetic tests have confirmed that an 82-pound animal shot on the Bonavista Peninsula in March was, in fact, a wolf.
more »

Money »

analysis What a Greek euro exit could mean for Canada
A tumultuous Greek exit from the eurozone would have a harder impact on Canada's economy than the credit crisis recession of 2008 and 2009, a report from a major Canadian bank warns.
Bankia asks Spain for €19B video
The board of directors of Spain's troubled bank, Bankia, has asked the Spanish government for €19 billion ($24.5 billion Cdn) in financial support.
EI reforms aim to boost employment, Flaherty says
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty defended his government's proposals to change employment insurance, saying the aim is to remove "disincentives to employment."
more »

Consumer Life »

Honda recalls Fit subcompacts
Honda Canada says it will recall 14,640 of its 2009 and 2010 Fit subcompact cars to replace lost motion springs.
U.S. travel fee proposal criticized by Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he doesn't think much of a new border tax that's being proposed by the United States, calling it a cash grab designed to help a budget crisis.
Bell class action suit approved by Que. court
A Quebec Superior Court judge has authorized a class action lawsuit to go ahead against Bell Mobility.
more »

Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

5 stories, including Josh Hamilton kayoes Blue Jays
A day after getting hammered by the Rangers, the Blue Jays stretched their opponents to 13 innings before Josh Hamilton crushed a Jason Frasor offering for an 8-7 win. That, plus more, in your top five stories from Saturday.
Stardom greeting Canadian cyclist Ryder Hesjedal video
After the sport of cycling worked hard to clean itself up, Canada's Ryder Hesjdal has emerged as one of its top riders, writes CBCSports.ca's Malcolm Kelly.
Stanley Cup final: The most intriguing people
Here are a dozen intriguing individuals to get to know as the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils prepare to meet in the championship series opener in Newark on Wednesday.
more »

Diversions »

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
more »