Tales to Astonish #25 - Highest Grade? Possiblity? 2 2

[ComicsGalore]

Picked this up...any chance this could be a 9.2? From what I can see there aren't any graded above 9.0(which only 3 and 1 restored)...Insides almost flawless.

Thoughts??

 

[shadroch]

The staples seem too shiny, but if they are original it has a shot at a 9.2.  Nice book! 

[ComicsGalore]

Didn't even consider staples. Will need to look closely again

 

[JohnT]

I don't see any flaws, so yes this could be a 9.2.

[GawkHawk]

Beautiful book!  It certainly looks like it has a shot at a 9.2.

[zzutak]

Definitely a very pretty copy.    But not flawless.    I see light toning along the top edge of the front cover (look carefully at the white price circle and white CCA stamp), ink smearing in the dialog balloon, and a tiny tear at the top edge of the back cover.  Is there a halo on the inside front cover?

[grendelbo]

9.0

Thanks for sharing.

[ComicsGalore]

Holiday festivities got me distracted - but wanted to add a bunch of other photos...

[JollyComics]

It looks like 9.2 but there is a slight ink smudge in the dialog balloon and tiny clip on the top edge on BC. I think you may have some ticks on the spine

I have to look closer to the lower right corner.  It looks like a color touch over the crease on FC (it darkened than the black cover).   You have two creases on both insider front and back covers.  Take a good look at all 4 pictures that I pinpointed the defects.  Check the spine if it has the color touches.  Luckily, no blessing through.

I have a strong feeling that your book may be professionally restored 7.5/8.0 at best.

Edited November 26, 2023 by JollyComics

[Point Five]

On 11/26/2023 at 11:34 AM, JollyComics said:

It looks like 9.2 but there is a slight ink smudge in the dialog balloon and tiny clip on the top edge on BC. I think you may have some ticks on the spine

I have to look closer to the lower right corner.  It looks like a color touch over the crease on FC (it darkened than the black cover).   You have two creases on both insider front and back covers.  Take a good look at all 4 pictures that I pinpointed the defects.  Check the spine if it has the color touches.  Luckily, no blessing through.

I have a strong feeling that your book may be professionally restored 7.5/8.0 at best.

All this. ^ Very good chance of color touch -- these black covers were just too tempting.

Oddly enough, I have a higher-grade-but-restored copy of this book myself, purchased way back in the 80s. Kind of random but I always dug this cover.