A first-print copy of Naruto volume 1 graded BGS 9.8 by Beckett Collectibles was recently sold for $20,000 in a private sale, breaking the record for the highest-selling manga to date.
Beckett Collectible shared the news of the sale on Twitter, stating, “This 1st printing of Naruto #1 recently sold privately for $20,000, setting a new record for the highest-selling manga to date.“
Beckett Collectibles is a renowned grading and authentication company and had expanded its services to include Manga Grading Service earlier this year.
According to them, a grading of 9.8 means the manga’s condition is NEAR MINT / MINT based on Beckett Collectible’s standard grading scale for manga. This is close to mint with few minor defects but is still an exceptional book. A score of 10 means that the manga that has been graded is in the best possible condition.
This sale has sparked controversy among fans, many of whom believe the price is wildly inflated. They also pointed out that first-print editions of Naruto #1 can still be found in Japan for as little as $5.
Some have also accused the sale of being a scam or a publicity stunt.
The first volume of Naruto was released on March 3, 2000.
Written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto was serialized for a 15-year run in Shueisha’s magazine, Weekly Shōnen Jump from Sep 21, 1999, to Nov 10, 2014.
Shueisha collected its chapters in 72 tankobon volumes.
Source: X