A copy of Action Comics No.1 - the Holy Grail of comic books, featuring the debut of Superman - has shattered auction records, selling for $1.5m.
The 1938 edition was bought from a private collector and sold on by website ComicConnect.com.
Company co-owner, Stephen Fishler declined to name the buyer but said he was "a hardcore comic book fan".
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The high price is in part down to the near pristine condition of the comic - after it spent years hidden in, and protected by, a stack of movie magazines.
Record comic book sales
"Because it was tucked inside a magazine, it was well protected all those years," said Mr Fishler. "That's why it's in such remarkable condition."
2010 is turning into a big year for comic book sales, with historic editions selling for huge amounts of money - and record prices broken several times.
Another copy of Superman-starring Action Comics No.1 was sold last month for $US1 million ($A1.1 million).
And that number was quickly bested when a 1939 comic book featuring the debut of rival superhero Batman sold for $US1 million and change.
"This new record will be hard to break," said ComicConnect co-owner Vincent Zurzolo. "Because this particular Action Comics No.1 is literally the single most valuable comic book on the planet."
