---
title: "Superman 1 (1940 Gum Inc. Superman) price, verified sales and population"
url: https://cardvolume.com/non-sport/superman/1940-gum-inc-superman-1/
category: Non-sport & vintage
updated: 2026-09-27
as_of: 2026-09-27
source: CardVolume (https://cardvolume.com)
---

# Superman 1 (1940 Gum Inc. Superman): price, verified sales and population

> The 1940 Gum Inc. Superman #1 is the first card in the 72-card R145 Superman gum-card set. Collectors search for it because it is a major prewar non-sport key tied to Superman's early card history and is difficult in high grade.

## Key facts

- CardVolume lists 13 verified sales of the Superman 1 (1940 Gum Inc. Superman) as of September 27, 2026.
- No grade has the 5 verified sales in 90 days needed for a market price; the most recent verified sale was $26,840 for a Gum Inc. R145 issue PSA 5 on April 4, 2026 at Heritage Auctions.
- The highest verified sale on record is $40,000 for a Gum Inc. R145 issue PSA 6.5 on January 23, 2025 at Heritage Auctions.

## Market price by version and grade

Market price = median of at least 5 verified sales in the last 90 days for that exact version, grader and grade. "—" means not enough verified sales.

| Version | Grade | Market price | Sales in window | Last verified sale | Record sale | Population |
|---|---|---:|---:|---|---|---:|
| Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 7 | — | 0 | $13,673 (2020-01-27) | $13,673 (2020-01-27) | — |
| Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 6.5 | — | 0 | $40,000 (2025-01-23) | $40,000 (2025-01-23) | — |
| Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 5 | — | 0 | $26,840 (2026-04-04) | $26,840 (2026-04-04) | — |
| Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 4 | — | 0 | $11,912 (2025-09-15) | $11,912 (2025-09-15) | — |
| Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 3 | — | 0 | $8,125 (2025-08-14) | $8,125 (2025-08-14) | — |
| Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 2 | — | 0 | $4,494 (2025-07-21) | $4,494 (2025-07-21) | — |
| Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 1 | — | 0 | $4,999 (2026-02-02) | $4,999 (2026-02-02) | — |

## Verified sales

Each sale was confirmed on the linked page by an automated check or an independent second pass.

| Date | Version | Grade | Price (USD) | Buyer's premium | Venue | Source |
|---|---|---|---:|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 5 | $26,840 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://cardboardfile.com/cards/1940-gum-inc-superman-1/) |
| 2026-02-02 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 1 | $4,999 | excluded | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.fanaticscollect.com/buy-now/728664e8-1ae2-413c-b2b9-454584f8932d/1940-gum-inc-superman-1-psa-1-pr) |
| 2025-09-15 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 4 | $11,912 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/non-sports-cards/1940-superman/superman-1/13747) |
| 2025-08-14 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 3 | $8,125 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://cardboardfile.com/cards/1940-gum-inc-superman-1/) |
| 2025-07-21 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 2 | $4,494 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/non-sports-cards/1940-superman/superman-1/13747) |
| 2025-07-11 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 4 | $8,540 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://sports.ha.com/itm/non-sport-cards/singles-pre-1950-/1940-gum-inc-superman-1-psa-vg-ex-4/a/50078-81769.s) |
| 2025-06-07 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 3 | $7,700 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/non-sports-cards/1940-superman/superman-1/13747) |
| 2025-05-16 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 4 | $9,150 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://sports.ha.com/itm/non-sport-cards/singles-pre-1950-/1940-gum-inc-superman-1-psa-vg-ex-4/a/50077-81336.s) |
| 2025-04-01 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 1 | $1,525 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/non-sports-cards/1940-superman/superman-1/13747) |
| 2025-01-23 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 6.5 | $40,000 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://cardboardfile.com/cards/1940-gum-inc-superman-1/) |
| 2024-11-18 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 1 | $1,375 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/non-sports-cards/1940-superman/superman-1/13747) |
| 2021-07-26 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 5 | $13,800 | included | Robert Edward Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/non-sports-cards/1940-superman/superman-1/13747) |
| 2020-01-27 | Gum Inc. R145 issue | PSA 7 | $13,673 | included | Mile High Card Company | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/non-sports-cards/1940-superman/superman-1/13747) |

## How to identify each version

- **Gum Inc. R145 issue**: Card #1 titled Superman from the 72-card 1940 Gum, Inc. Superman R145 set; distinguish from 1940 Leader Novelty or other Superman issues.

**Identity note:** Seed identity was correct; the PSA set profile identifies the 1940 Gum, Inc. Superman set as R145 and card #1 as one of the keys.

## Why this card matters

PSA's 1940 Superman set profile identifies the Gum, Inc. R145 issue as a 72-card set and names card #1, Superman, as one of the keys to the collection. The same profile says the set is rarer than many other non-sport entries and that #1 and #72 are among the most difficult to find in high grade because of handling and rubber-band damage. The card matters as an early Superman trading-card object, not as a comic-book substitute.

## Identifying the exact version

The exact version is 1940 Gum, Inc. Superman R145, card #1, titled Superman, English. PSA describes the set as 72 cards measuring 2 1/2 by 3 1/8 inches, with colorful drawings and reverse text carrying the card number and Supermen of America Club information. Keep this Gum, Inc. R145 issue separate from Leader Novelty, comic books, later reprints, raw damaged examples, and other Superman cards. For comps, use the same grader and grade whenever possible.

## What moves the price between versions and grades

Grade, card number, high-grade scarcity, front-back eye appeal, paper loss, stains, rubber-band damage, and whether the copy is complete all affect pricing. PSA CardFacts shows only 1 PSA 8 and no PSA 9 or PSA 10 entry on access date 2026-09-26. The recent APR rows are thin, so one sale should not be treated as a stable market price. This is a case where dated comps and explicit condition notes matter more than broad Superman demand.

## Authenticity checks

Compare against official references; multiple checks; no destructive tests; copied cert numbers exist. Confirm the R145 issue, card #1 title, dimensions, back design, paper stock, print quality, and any restoration or trimming concerns. Do not rely only on the Superman character name, because many Superman collectibles exist from the same broad era. For slabs, match the certification data to the physical holder and seller images; PSA warns that copied cert numbers can appear on counterfeit inserts.

## Common misconceptions

- **Myth:** A Superman #1 card is the same as Superman #1 comic evidence. **What the evidence says:** The Gum, Inc. card is a trading card in the R145 set and must be researched separately from comics.
- **Myth:** Any 1940 Superman card comp can price card #1. **What the evidence says:** Card #1 is one of the set keys; other card numbers, high numbers, and different conditions should not be merged into one comp set.
- **Myth:** The PSA 8 count means only one high-grade copy exists anywhere. **What the evidence says:** The count is PSA's graded population as accessed, not a census of all raw or other-grader copies.
- **Myth:** A cert lookup alone proves a listing is authentic. **What the evidence says:** PSA says cert verification does not eliminate risk and that copied cert numbers can be used by counterfeiters.

## FAQ

### How much is a PSA 4 1940 Gum Inc. Superman #1 worth?

PSA CardFacts shows a PSA 4 sale at $11,912 on 2025-09-15 and another PSA 4 sale at $10,200 on 2023-12-18.

### How many PSA 8 Superman #1 R145 cards exist?

PSA CardFacts showed 1 PSA 8 example and no PSA 9 or PSA 10 entry as accessed on 2026-09-26.

### Is 1940 Gum Inc. Superman #1 part of the R145 set?

Yes; PSA's set profile identifies the 1940 Gum, Inc. Superman set as R145.

### What size is the 1940 Gum Inc. Superman card?

PSA describes the R145 Superman cards as 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/8 inches.

### Are high numbers relevant to Superman #1?

Not for #1; PSA says high numbers are #49-72, while #1 is important as a key card and first number in the set.

### Should I compare Leader Novelty Superman cards to Gum Inc. #1?

No; the exact issue matters, and the opened evidence supports treating Gum, Inc. R145 separately from other Superman releases.

## Sources

1. [1940 Superman Superman PSA CardFacts](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/non-sports-cards/1940-superman/superman-1/13747) (PSA)
2. [Non-Sports Cards - 1940 Superman PSA CardFacts](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/non-sports-cards/1940-superman/90) (PSA)
3. [PSA Grading Standards](https://www.psacard.com/gradingstandards) (PSA)
4. [PSA Cert Verification](https://www.psacard.com/cert) (PSA)

## How to cite

> Superman 1 (1940 Gum Inc. Superman). CardVolume, https://cardvolume.com/non-sport/superman/1940-gum-inc-superman-1/ (accessed 2026-09-27).

Machine-readable: https://cardvolume.com/api/v1/cards/non-sport--superman--1940-gum-inc-superman-1.json · Method: https://cardvolume.com/methodology/