Lot # 1662: 1935 Street & Smith The Shadow #88 Pulp Magazine - CGC 5.5

The Shadow is on the case, with this 1935 Street & Smith The Shadow #88 (volume 15, #4) pulp magazine, titled "The House That Vanished". A staple of the pulp fiction genre, The Shadow outpaced other titles, with a lengthy 18-year run. Dated October 15, 1935, this nicely preserved pulp was published fairly early in the title's run, which began in 1931. CGC has confirmed the quality of this attractive example, by bestowing a grade 5.5, Cream to Off-White Pages.

While CGC's label cites "All 3 Edges of Cover Trimmed", the practice of trimming was common among 1930s readers, as pulp magazines were published with overhanging edges during this period, which quickly became ragged, and for many unappealing. CGC has encapsulated this pulp in a Universal Grade holder, suggesting the edge trimming was likely performed long ago, and is not the result of modern-day malicious tampering.

The result is very satisfying, with neat edges all around, and the front cover is very attractive. To date, CGC has graded just two examples of this issue, testifying to its scarcity. Label notes credit the creators as "Cover by George Rozen, Tom Lovell art, Walter B. Gibson story".