bondtrader54

clearly the cover is off center which makes it looked trimmed. i don't think that claim can be made without book in hand. heres a graded copy fom ebay.https://www.ebay.com/itm/1961-MARVEL-FANTASTIC-FOUR-1-1ST-APPEARANCE-amp-ORIGIN-FANTASTIC-4-CGC-4-5-CR-OW-/163444407623?hash=item260e0bbd47%3Ag%3A4h8AAOSwOrpbykDq&nma=true&si=fNnPk3FzRg%2FDzKGrVNfHff88yRg%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 the area behind Mr Fantastics arm has almost the same amount of art as this copy. If i were to be worried about restoration then i would be concerned with the coloring of the cover which looks younger than the interior. 6? if its not restored in any way then ....wow.

area to the left of 52 looks more like color loss to me and fading could be caused by a number of things. book looks 7.5-8 to me

beautiful book.obvious weakness is the warping, the staple and the tiny piece off the cover bottom left. 7/7.5

usually i'm less strict but that paper loss on the ad page keeps this under 9 pressed or not. 8.5

grades in and i suspect i don't make the grade.

i'm in

in

I had a sgt fury 2 with chipping all down the side. otherwise a beautiful book. GCG gave me an 8. So i don't know how heavy its weighed. I think this is 5/5.5.

such a tough gray background. So many copies look dirty. I have the good fortune to be really old and can recall what it looked like new. Like yours! what a stunner.

you're welcome and i only went 6-6.5 because of the questions surrounding restoration. I had a 7 in 7.0 with a sealed tear on the FC of a few inches. It def did't look as good as your #3. If this is unrestored i can see 7.5-8. However the way prices are today the price you paid kinda indicates some restoration. What you paid was more like a 2005 price which never happens today.

just noticed on that listing- This listing has ended. The seller has relisted this item or one like this. so it is the same book.

getting past restoration questions, which is what the thread has been so far,i'll go 6.0 maybe 6.5. Inside is flat out white.

The books are put together mechanically. Its solid technology but not perfect. Take 50 copies of a single issue and you'll notice the variations. One of the most obvious issue with a recurring flaw is FF 24. Purple /black wavey ink across the top border on a bunch of them. Look at the issues on EBAY.

3.5-4. Really doesn't look as bad as other books in that grade. bottom front beat up but the other sides pretty nice for the grade.

4.0. best thing i can say for the book is it still has good color.

must mean this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fantastic-Four-48-Cgc-8-5-Signed-By-Stan-Lee-First-Galactus-Silver-Surfer/113557073330?hash=item1a70876db2:g:xiwAAOSw8cFcPKli of course 2 items below an 8.5 SS went for $4272.

i'm in!

If i'm not mistaken AF 15 is more expensive. Its a title should belong to FF1 as the start of the Marvel universe.

Well thats a really pretty 5.5.

9.2-9.4.

I think an easy 7.0. Presents really nicely for a difficult issue.

I can't get above 2.5 because the pages ,if not yet brittle, look like they soon will be.

Well thats a really pretty 5.5.

one of the toughest covers to find in high grade. This is gorgeous. I guess its the gray background makes it look washed out to start with.

If i can sell a book on EBAY for $20 raw and i believe the book is say 9.6 or 9.8, and can get 80 or more slabbed then i'll slab it. I didn't hold onto a book for 30 years unread to give it away . Now my case might be different because i have a great many books that fit that. criteria.