Catwoman First Appearance: Batman #1 and How to Identify It

Catwoman first appeared in Batman #1 (cover date Spring 1940), published by DC, by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson. The source puts it this way: "This book features the first appearance of The Joker and The Cat (Catwoman).".

• Original character name in the story: in this issue she is called "The Cat," not yet "Catwoman."
• No cat costume yet in this issue: at this point she wore a furry cat-like mask with a caped orange dress, not the cat-themed costume she is known for.

• Indicia: the small print on the first page or inside cover gives the issue number, date and publisher; reprints usually say so there.
• Cover price and barcode: a price or barcode format that did not exist in the year printed means a later edition.
• Paper and staples: decades-old newsprint is tan at the edges; bright white pages on an old date are a warning sign.
• Restoration: color touch, trimmed edges and married covers are common on expensive keys; a grading service can detect them.

Shoot the front cover flat, straight on, in even light, then the indicia page and the back cover. Include the top edge and staples in one frame. The app reads the title, issue number and cover and matches it against the checks above; the indicia photo settles most reprint questions.