Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest almost in tears after expert revealed the value of her Superman figure (marketrealist.com)
A vintage Superman figure, passed down through generations, recently stunned its owner with a surprising appraisal value on PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow.” The figure, discovered in a boarding house amongst other belongings in the 1990s, had spent decades tucked away in a shoebox. The owner’s great-grandfather had run the boarding house, and after his passing, the figure became a family heirloom.
Appraiser Travis Landry identified the figure as a rare 1942 DC Comics promotional item, crafted from Syroco Wood – a molded wood pulp material developed in late 19th-century New York. Landry explained that these figures were originally created as retailer incentives to promote DC Comics.
He noted the figure’s remarkably good condition, with much of the original paint intact despite its age. The figure featured paint applications on the hair, face, chest, pants, and boots.
Landry’s appraisal of $3,000 to $5,000 left the owner speechless, expressing excitement to share the news with her parents and uncles, who possess the other two Superman figures from the boarding house. The owner, who attended the show without her mother, shared that her mother would likely be emotional upon hearing the news. Landry hinted that his estimate might even be conservative, suggesting the figure could fetch a higher price at auction.