Sale price for ‘Superman the Movie’ cape sets new world’s record

Don’t tug on Superman’s cape, unless you have $200,000 to pay for it. When Warner Bros. produced “Superman the Movie” in 1978, Superman star Christopher Reeve had to make it through the entire production working with a limited number of the iconic capes. Only six were available for the entire movie.

Yesterday, Julien’s Auctions in Culver City, California, announced with glee that the auction house successfully sold the Superman’s cape to the highest bidder when they posted: “SOLD for $193,750! Christopher Reeve’s cape from Superman! Sold today in our “Icons & Idols: Hollywood” auction taking place in Beverly Hills and live online at www.JuliensAuctions.com!”

The selling price for Julien’s end-of year auction event set a new world record, making this sale the “most expensive superhero cape sold at auction.”

According to Julien’s Auctions, Monday marked the cape’s second auction appearance after 40 years “and was part of a world-wide contest to promote the movie’s release… with the grand prize being one of the six original capes made for and used in the film.” ~ Fox News

Julien’s did pretty well with the $193,750 sale price considering that the cape was only estimated to gross around $100,000.

Included in the final sale price for the cape was a copy of Superman #331 – the comic which advertised a “movie contest.” First prize in that contest was “the actual cape worn by Christopher Reeve in the filming of Superman the movie.”

As provenance, it also featured nine pages of documents, including a letter to the prize winner signed by DC Comics President Sol Harrison from February 27th, 1978, according to Rolling Stone.