Galactus First Appearance: Fantastic Four #48 and How to Identify It

Galactus first appeared in Fantastic Four #48 (cover date March 1966), published by Marvel, by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby. The source puts it this way: "featuring the first appearance of the Silver Surfer and first cameo of Galactus".

• Cover date on CGC census record: CGC's census record lists the cover date as 3/66.
• Interior story detail (Galactus as herald's master): in this issue, the Silver Surfer descends from the cosmos on his gleaming surfboard as the herald of the world-devouring cosmic entity known as Galactus.

• 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.