First printing of Naruto Volume 1, graded BGS 9.8 by Beckett Collectibles, recently sold for $20,000 in a private sale, breaking the record for the fastest-selling manga to date.
Beckett Collectible shared news of the sale on Twitter, saying: “This first printing of Naruto #1 recently sold privately for $20,000, setting a new record for the fastest-selling manga to date.”
Beckett Collectibles is a well-known grading and authentication company and expanded its services to include a Manga Grading Service earlier this year.
According to them, a 9.8 means that the condition of the manga is NEAR MINT/MINT based on Beckett Collectible's standard grading scale for manga. The book is near perfect with a few minor flaws but is still a special book. A 10 means that the manga has been graded as being in the best possible condition.
The sale has sparked controversy among fans, many of whom believe the price was overblown. They also point out that you can still find a first-print edition of Naruto #1 in Japan for as little as $5.
Some people also accused the sale of being a scam or an advertising gimmick.
The first episode of Naruto was released on March 3, 2000.
Written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto It was serialized for 15 years in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from September 21, 1999 to November 10, 2014.
Shueisha has collected the chapters into 72 tankobon volumes.
Source: X
