Top-Notch Issue: / Year: January 1927 Condition: FR Jan 15 1927. Lead story is "The Black Shadow" with cover by P J Monahan, who was most famous for his illustrations of the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. This cover and story bears a strong resemblence to the "Shadow" pulps that Street Smith started in 1931. Many collectors feel that the true first appearance of "The Shadow" was in Fame Fortune magazine in 1929. However, there is a small but growing group of pulp historians who feel that the true origins of the character were spawned in this issue of Top-Notch that appeared over two years before the famous issue of Fame Fortune appeared. This is a very rare issue and you must decide for your self if the origin trail of The shadow leads back here. Surely Walter Gibson would have had an opportunity to read this issue. Fair condition, water staining at top and back, tape at top and bottom of spine. Publisher: Street and Smith Sku: PULP013-080 Over 100,000 mail orders processed! Buy with confidence.