Someone help me on this FF # 1

[JiveTurkeyMoFo]

The book in question is this FF 1

 

Now, I've been looking at this book, and it looks like a very sharp VG+, but on one of the scans it almost seems like there is a two inch long moisture stain along the upper spine. Does anyone else see this in the scan? And if so, does this book really qualify for a 4.5? I could just email the seller to have him confirm this for me, but instead I wanted to see if anyone else out there also saw the same thing.

 

Thanks

[blazingbob]

This is one ugly FF #1, nice big stain

[Zanarkand]

Request better pics of the spine area. Back spine looks to have a mighty big discolored area too. Might be a shadow.

[supapimp]

looks like a shadow, but im sure your FF 1 blows this out of the water. that's a good price for the FF 1, and it's signed by the late jack kirby to boot!

[Aces]

It's an old label and there is lots of writing on it.

 

It's a poor scan/pic so you can't read it.

 

Ask the seller what it says.

It will probably state what that brown stuff is.

I'd hazzard a guess: Sunshadow!

 

 

This is the number: 0117333001

 

Have someone check the grader's notes if you can't.

 

[Bronty]

Look at this crackhead's version of "guide". Looks like he's really hoping for a 5K sucker to be born.

 

FANTASTIC FOUR #1

MINT $48,000.00

MINT - $41,600.00

N.MINT/MINT $40,000.00

NEAR MINT + $35,200.00

NEAR MINT $32,000.00

NEAR MINT - $31,040.00

V.FINE/N.MINT $30,400.00

VERY FINE + $28,800.00

VERY FINE $27,200.00

VERY FINE - $22,400.00

FINE/V.FINE $17,600.00

FINE + $12,800.00

FINE $9,600.00

FINE - $6,720.00

V.GOOD/FINE $6,080.00

VERY GOOD + $5,440.00

VERY GOOD $4,800.00

VERY GOOD - $4,160.00

GOOD/V.GOOD $3,520.00

GOOD + $2,880.00

GOOD $2,240.00

GOOD - $1,920.00

FAIR/GOOD $1,600.00

FAIR $960.00

 

 

 

[rob_react]

looks like a shadow, but im sure your FF 1 blows this out of the water.

 

 

I'd say it does:

 

 

 

[OldGuy]

It's an old label and there is lots of writing on it.

 

It's a poor scan/pic so you can't read it.

 

I can read the label clearly. All it notes (out of the ordinary) is "'Jack Kirby' written on first page in marker". The PQ is very nice at OW-W.

[Mister_Mean-migration]

This is one ugly FF #1, nice big stain

 

At least it doesn't have a big, ugly grease pencil arrival date scrolled on the cover.

[thecomicsheet]

I don't think there is a stain on it. I think this may be just an example of REALLY bad picture taking. If you look at the different pictures the brown area seems to move around. It could be a shadow that just happens to look like an awful stain. This is another reason why I use a good scanner and not a camera to get my pics.

I'd try to get some more pics from the seller.

[JiveTurkeyMoFo]

I don't think there is a stain on it. I think this may be just an example of REALLY bad picture taking. If you look at the different pictures the brown area seems to move around. It could be a shadow that just happens to look like an awful stain. This is another reason why I use a good scanner and not a camera to get my pics.

 

Just received an email from the seller, and it is indeed a stain, and there is soiling on the back cover as well. Truely mystifying how this book got a 4.5.....

[supapimp]

im guessing w/o stain it would grade a 9.4.

[SilverAgeGuy]

It sure does look like a water stain. Take a look at the pic with the close up of the title. Look to the left of "The".

 

Also take a look at the pic of the reverse... specifically the bottom half of the spine.

[Aces]

Well I was looking at this...

 

 

Maybe I should have looked at this:

 

 

 

I'm having a bad day reading auction pages today...

 

[uluru]

Request better pics

[thecomicsheet]

I don't think there is a stain on it. I think this may be just an example of REALLY bad picture taking. If you look at the different pictures the brown area seems to move around. It could be a shadow that just happens to look like an awful stain. This is another reason why I use a good scanner and not a camera to get my pics.

 

Just received an email from the seller, and it is indeed a stain, and there is soiling on the back cover as well. Truely mystifying how this book got a 4.5.....

 

Wow! How did this get a 4.5? Could the stain have gotten worse after encapsulation?

[Aces]

Hey folks.

(I sort of hate to bring this up cause I'm having such a off day noticing things correctly.)

Look closely at the pic below:

The "shadow" goes past the book on the left (spine side) and continues through the clear slab. Also on the upper right too...

 

Maybe he was standing in his light when taking the pic and the shadow is his own body?

Isn't it like the shape of a person holding a camera and hovering over the book to take a picture?

The one on the upper right may be a shadow of something else blocking the light...?

 

 

Notice the "stains" seem to be gone from this angle:

 

 

 

[JiveTurkeyMoFo]

Aces, the stain that I'm talking about is visible on the second picture that you put up. Blow it up, and look closely at the area along the upper front spine between the "ind" and "the" of the title (and also somewhat lower to the Sue Storms word bubble). Its nearly translucent, but it is indeed a moisture stain, and it looks to occupy 1-2 inches of the spine.

[Aces]

I'm begining to think digital cameras aren't such a good idea for comics.

A scan wouldn't mask defects as much.

 

After copying the pic on my desktop and lowering the gamma I could see the water stain better.

About 2" long inches from the top corner down.

 

I bet the top staple is rusty.

Can't tell from this pic...