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Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962)First appearance and origin of Spider-Man

How much is Amazing Fantasy #15 worth? First make sure it is a 1962 original and not one of Marvel's facsimile or promotional reprints, which look much the same. Check which copy you have below, then compare it with what the same grade actually sold for.

Publisher
Marvel Comics
Cover date
August 1962
Cover price
12 cents
Writer
Stan Lee
Artist
Steve Ditko
Cover
Jack Kirby (pencils) and Steve Ditko (inks)
Key
Origin and first appearance of Spider-Man; first appearances of Uncle Ben and Aunt May

Amazing Fantasy #15 prices by CGC grade

Grade moves the price more than anything else: the record is $3.6 million for a CGC 9.6 at Heritage Auctions in September 2021, while the typical graded copy is around CGC 2.5 (the CGC census median) and sells for a small fraction of that. Each eBay link searches the copies for sale now in that grade range, with facsimiles, reprints and the 2000s Amazing Fantasy series filtered out of the search. The Heritage link lists past auction results for graded copies; Heritage shows the sold price once you sign in with a free account.

  1. For sale: CGC 9.0 and upThe very top: very few copies exist
  2. For sale: CGC 8.0 – 8.5Very Fine and Very Fine+
  3. For sale: CGC 6.0 – 7.5Fine to Very Fine-
  4. For sale: CGC 4.0 – 5.5Very Good to Fine-
  5. For sale: CGC 2.0 – 3.5Good to Very Good-, around the census median (2.5)
  6. For sale: CGC 0.5 – 1.8Poor to Good-, still a real 1962 copy
  7. For sale: CBCS, any gradeThe other big grading company
  8. For sale: Raw (not graded)Ungraded copies: judge condition from the photos
  9. Past sales: Heritage AuctionsPast auction results for CGC-graded copies; a free Heritage account shows the sold prices
  10. Sold on eBay (sign-in needed)eBay's completed sales, all grades; eBay asks you to sign in to see them

The eBay links show copies for sale now and work without an eBay account. To see sold prices, eBay asks you to sign in and Heritage asks for a free account. ComicSeeker doesn't show prices or sell anything.

Which copy do you have?

Original vs. facsimile

Marvel's 2019 Facsimile Edition reproduces the whole issue, ads and all, including the 12-cent star, but adds a modern $3.99 cover price and a barcode, and its small print (the indicia) adds a modern printing notice. A 1962 original has no barcode (Marvel added barcodes in 1976), and its indicia reads August 1962 with no later printing date.

Reprints and promotional copies

The story has been reprinted many times, including a 2018 promotional reprint for the Spider-Man video game. Most reprints sell for a few dollars, so check the cover price and the indicia before you compare prices.

  1. For sale: facsimile editionsSo you can see how far below an original it is priced
  2. For sale: reprints and promotional copiesTo rule out a reprint

For sale now, auction results and price guides

  1. eBay — for sale nowBuy-it-now and auctions, reprints filtered out
  2. ComicLinkCurrent auctions for the title (all issues)
  3. MyComicShopLarge back-issue dealer
  4. HipComicMarketplace for raw and graded comics
  5. GoCollectPrice guide based on recorded sales
  6. League of Comic GeeksEvery cover and variant listed
  7. Comic VineCredits, story and first appearances

Why is Amazing Fantasy #15 worth so much?

Amazing Fantasy #15 is the debut of Spider-Man. Stan Lee wrote the story and Steve Ditko drew it; Lee turned down Ditko's cover and had Jack Kirby pencil a new one, which Ditko inked. The issue also introduces Uncle Ben and Aunt May. It is among the most valuable comics of all time, which is why so many facsimiles and reprints exist, and why checking your copy comes first.

Amazing Fantasy #15: common questions

How much is Amazing Fantasy #15 worth?

It depends on grade, and on whether it is a 1962 original. A fair value for your copy is what the same grade actually sold for recently. The Heritage past-sales link above lists real auction results (a free Heritage account shows the prices); eBay asking prices in the same grade show what sellers want today.

How do I tell an original Amazing Fantasy #15 from a facsimile?

A facsimile copies the 12-cent star too, so look elsewhere: a 1962 original has no barcode, and its small print (the indicia) reads August 1962 with no later printing date. The 2019 Facsimile Edition has a $3.99 cover price, a barcode and a modern printing notice in the indicia.

Who drew the Amazing Fantasy #15 cover?

Jack Kirby pencilled the cover and Steve Ditko inked it. Ditko drew the story inside, which Stan Lee wrote.

What is the record price for Amazing Fantasy #15?

A CGC 9.6 copy sold for $3.6 million at Heritage Auctions in September 2021.

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