Wow. Don't mind me, folks, I'm just having a little moment here.
Richard, I used to own that book. That exact copy! I got it from Dave Smith of Fantasy Illustrated 20+ years ago. I walked into his shop in Garden Grove, saw that book in his glass case, and immediately had to have it. I didn't have any extra cash at the time, so we worked out a trade. I gave him a stack of stuff, can't remember what exactly, but one of the books was an 8.0ish copy of Adventure #267, the second Legion appearance.
That Cap 39 was the first Timely I ever purchased, and probably the first time I'd ever seen a Schomburg cover. I had it for years, then either sold it or traded it in the 90s when I was going after Action Mile Highs.
It's amazing to see it again. If you ever upgrade, please let me know. I'd be happy to take it off your hands at whatever price you think is fair.
You blew me away. I'm actually verklempt over a comic book!
Wow, Jeff! It is amazing how much of an impression that first golden age book makes. Billy Parker has the first Timely I ever bought, a Marvel Mystery 72 (got it from Tanner Miles for $25 in 1973). We have a deal that if he ever gets another copy, it is coming back home. I certainly will do the same with the Cap 39. Interestingly enough, the Larson Daring 5 was the first pedigree I ever got (back when we didn't know what a pedigree was). I had just met Burrel Rowe and he was showing me a bunch of golden age stuff. In the first stack of books that he showed me was the Daring 5. I had just finished reading Steranko's History of Comics and recognized the cover from the Timely article. I had to have it! But, at thirteen, it took a while to save up the $200. About a year and a half later it was mine! And the first thing I did (DISCLOSURE ALERT) was erase the name in the bottom of the "D"...
Undo the deed. Write it back onto the cover.
Restoration is not funny.