Love collectibles? Batman comic sale could inspire antique valuation seekers

A rare issue of a Batman No 1 comic strip from 1940 has been sold for $55,269 (£34,835).

An anonymous bidder picked up the item at Heritage Auctions in Dallas.

The cartoon was sold by Mike Wheat, a retired city wastewater treatment plant operator, who purchased the strip in 1974 for $300.

In addition, the high value accrued for the piece was partly due to the fact that despite its age, it had been preserved in near-mint condition.

This is because it was discovered in a yard sale dresser alongside a copy of Superman No 17.

Barry Sandoval, director of comic auctions and operations at the auction house, was quoted by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner as stating: "I'd say that page quality probably made $10,000 difference."

He added that when the hammer came down, "there were smiles all around".

Elsewhere, Mr Sandoval told the Associated Press in Texas: "When I was a teenager collecting comics, I never thought I would see the Batman No. 1 comic."

Posted by Keith Leicester