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Collecting & the comic ages

What is a facsimile edition, and how do I avoid buying a reprint as an original?

Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Short answerA facsimile edition is a modern reprint that reproduces an old comic's cover and interior, including the original advertisements, at the original page count. Marvel and DC have published many since 2019. Facsimiles are clearly marked in the indicia and usually carry a modern barcode and cover price, but from a photo of the cover alone they can look identical to the original, so always check the indicia, price, barcode and paper before buying.

How to tell a facsimile from an original

  1. The cover price. Amazing Fantasy #15 was 12 cents; a facsimile carries a current price.
  2. The barcode. Originals from before 1976 have no barcode at all.
  3. The indicia — the small print on the first page or inside cover — states the publication date and "Facsimile Edition".
  4. Paper and printing. Facsimiles are printed on modern, brighter paper with sharper colour.
  5. Size. Some reprints are slightly different in dimensions from the original.

Other kinds of reprint to know

  • Marvel Milestone Editions (1990s) and Famous First Editions (DC, 1970s, oversized) — clearly labelled reprints of key issues.
  • True Believers — dollar reprints, marked on the cover.
  • Second and later printings of a Modern Age issue — the same issue reprinted soon after release, marked in the indicia and often with a different cover colour.
  • Foreign editions — licensed reprints from other countries, usually with a different logo and language.

Grading facsimiles

CGC grades facsimiles and labels them as such, so a slabbed facsimile is easy to spot. The danger is a raw book photographed to look like the original. A seller who will not show the indicia or state the print is telling you something.

Why facsimiles are useful

They are the cheapest way to read a key issue as it was originally presented, ads and all, and they make good display pieces. They are not investments. Every listing in the store states the printing, and our authenticity guarantee covers any book that turns out not to be what its listing says.

Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.

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