The Man of Steel was on the scene during Hake’s Americana & Collectibles’ $1.75 million auction. Always a popular draw to the comics and superhero sections of their auctions, Superman achieved some impressive results.

The Action Comics version of the Superman 1940 contest prize ring realized $8,709. The contest was announced in Superman #3 and the ring says “Supermen of America Action Comics”. Hake’s knows of 20 examples of the “Member” ring (with planet and lightning bolts on the sides) but this is 1 of only 7 with the words “Action Comics” on the piece and geometric designs on the sides.

Rings took several top spots, including the Superman/Tim rare high grade 1948 ring with code symbols for “Good Luck”. It soared to $6,490, more than tripling the preauction estimate. It is the best example known to Hake’s and was previously in a collection for the past 25 years.

Artwork for the Man of Steel was also a hit in this auction. The Superman Family original art by Sheldon Moldoff closed at $7,852 after spirited bidding pushed it well beyond the $400 to $700 estimate. The pen and ink watercolor shows Superman and Supergirl at center flanked by series related characters – both Kryptonian and human ‒ on 12” x 17-1/2” artboard mounted to Bainbridge Board.

An extremely rare Superman DC promotional figural ashtray topped its estimate of $2,000 to $5,000, bringing $6,749. The 1942 Syroco-like wood composition figure was designed by Superman artist Wayne Boring to promote Superman to DC distributors and retailers. Hake’s has offered only one other example in their 50 years.

The Curt Swan Superman #137 comic page original art in custom framed display ascended to $5,321. The piece depicts Superman Super-Menace in five panels with Superman bursting in to save the day. The 20” x 26-1/2” custom frame was created by artist Dan Makara with a collage style that uses Silver Age DC panels.

Another Makara piece was the Wayne Boring Superman 1950 Sunday page original art in custom framed display that sold for $3,575. The pen and ink original art has ten panels with a story revealing his Clark Kent alter ego. It’s in a 25-1/2” x 30-1/2” custom frame by Makara with collage art using Superman comic panels from the ’50s.

The Supermen of America – Action Comics rare and high grade premium emblem/patch and letter netted $5,192. The piece was issued in late 1939 to early 1940 in Action Comics and Superman. The 5-1/2” emblem/patch is made of two layers of felt and a thin sheet of cardboard with silk-screened design of Superman on the front.

A rare Superman Bread sign promoting adventure story cards soared to $4,130, quadrupling the estimate. The single-sided 5-1/2” x 16-1/4” paper banner from 1941 features a nice image of Superman in classic hands on hips pose.

The Man of Steel was also very popular at the movies! A Superman serial linen-backed one-sheet signed by actor Kirk Alyn brought $3,325, over the estimate of $1,000 to $2,000. This poster advertises chapter 15 of the 1948 Columbia serial featuring Alyn as Superman.

Another interesting film lot was the Superman the movie 1978 extensive lot of shooting schedules and call sheets. It crushed the $200 to $400 estimate, reaching $1,557. It contained two file boxes of film production paperwork like shooting schedules, call sheets, breakdowns, internal memos, and security procedures.

All results include the 18% buyer’s premium. Every price realized during Auction #222 can be viewed at hakes.com.