George Reeves played Superman 12 years after the comic appeared

Complete with S logo and red underpants, the costume was worn by the man of steel from that series, George Reeves.

It sold for $129,980 (�80,000) in Los Angeles on Friday. It had been expected to fetch as much as $150,000 (�93,160) in a sale estimated to raise over $1m (�621,000).

"It is extremely valuable because Reeves was such an icon in television and comicbook history as well as in pop culture," said Brian Chanes of Los Angeles-based movie memorabilia auctioneers Profiles In History.

"It's also the most complete and best preserved Reeves costume ever to reach the auction block," he said.

Elsewhere in the Los Angeles sale, the lyrics to the song Springtime for Hitler from Mel Brooks movie The Producers, sold for $26,550 (�16,490).

Comedian Jim Carrey's costume as the Riddler in 1995's Batman Forever sold for $10,620 (�6,590).

"People around the world want to collect and own items such as these from their favourite movies and television shows," said Joseph Maddalena of Profiles In History.

The auction was one of three the company holds every year.