Batman #1 is the first self-titled issue of Batman following the success of his run that started in Detective Comics #27.

Batman 1 For Sale and Value

Why It’s Important – First Solo Comic of Batman

Price and Value Trends – a blue chip comic.

Investment Potential – Batman #1 is considered a “blue chip” comic investment. He remains one of the most important characters in DC comics lore with movies, television animation and merchandising.

The Detective Comics #27 1st Batman I wrote about a few weeks ago has sold for $492,937. This compares to the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide 40th Edition value of $525,000 in Fine 6.0.

Detective Comics #27 hit a high on February 25, 2010 of $1,075,500 in CGC 8.0 (the highest unrestored copy known to exist). This is an increase from a 2008 sale for $255,000 in CGC 7.0. In March 2010 a CGC 6.0 copy did sell for $575,000, of course this was on the heels of the record sale a month earlier. The market may be cooling off slightly for this book.

Take note of the volatility in the comic book market and also the difference between actual sales prices realized and Overstreet values.

Today’s Sacramento Bee (10/29/2010) featured a story about a local man who has a copy of Detective 27 up for auction at Heritage (good choice!). You can read the story here. Since I live in the Sacramento area my wife and I found this article very entertaining.

Robert Irwin is the original owner, he remembers buying the comic book in 1939 from a Sacramento market. He left the comic in a box for 55 years, squeezed between copies of a National Geographic and Mechanics Illustrated he also bought on that trip. He almost sold in 1992 to a local comic shop but his wife talked him out of it. Now, almost 20 years later it is up for auction.

The comic graded CGC 7.0 FN/VF with off-white pages. I’ll be tracking the book and it’s final realized price. There will be an update after the signature auction closes in November. You can see the book here.