Comic Beats Algebra

Human Torch triumphs over double-entry bookkeeping at 2019 auctions

$1.26 million by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions on November 21, 2019. 

In 2019 the first printed work on algebra, Summa de arithmetica (1494), by Luca Pacioli the "father of accounting," (full name: Fra Luca Bartolomeo de Pacioli, 1447–1517), brought less at auction ($1.25 million)¹ than the first (1939) Marvel comic ($1.26 million).²

Portrait of Luca Pacioli (1445–1517) with a student, attributed to Jacopo de' Barbari

1. Rowe, Oliver. (2019). Pacioli text sells for more than $1.2M. FM Magazine (June 11,13).

2. Dolasia, Meera. (2019). Pristine Copy Of First Marvel Comics Issue Auctions For $1.26 Million. DOGOnews (November 25).