Regarding the comics industry recent reholder scandal / scam, please note that all books I sell were submitted directly by me to CGC at various comic conventions (as well as the occasional private signing event). I do not buy already graded books and then resell them. So every CGC item I have for sale was graded by CGC and then came directly to me and not through another dealer. Please further note that photos, prints, and original art sketches (that are not on actual comic books but are rather just on sketch paper or the like? i.e. anything certified by CGC that does not have a grade, are not searchable on their site by the serial number. Only graded comics and magazines - items with grades - are searchable by serial number. However, for such items not searchable on their site, you can call CGC Customer Service and they can verify the item authentication over the phone. About the item: The first comic book series based on Gary Gygax's iconic roll playing game Advanced Dungeons Dragons, TSR teamed with DC Comics to produce an entire line of comics based on the worlds of TSR. In all, DC produced four ongoing series?, launching in 1988 with Dragonlance (August) and Advanced Dungeons Dragons (September). They were later followed by Forgotten Realms (September, 1989) and Spelljammer (September, 1990). The AD D title lasted the longest, concluding with issue #36 in December of 1991. This copy of the very first issue of the series is signed by Jan Duursema - the cover and interior artist and inker. It is professionally graded by CGC at 9.8 as part of their special Signature Series (and, according to the CGC Census, there are only ten 9.8 SS copies graded as of this writing). With Signature Series books a certified CGC witness actually observes the signing of the comic and then immediately takes possession of the book so there is no possibility of the real autograph being switched out with another. It will be shipped with the utmost care.