I can't quite see from the angle, but given the thickness of the top cap and baseplate I think the head and handle are mis-matched. What you have there is a head from the '50s and a handle from the '60s. If it's the head that I think it is, it'll have a diamond shape under the baseplate where the handle screws up to and the long bar under the top cap will poke out at each end of the diamond.
Either way, yes ... lovely razor. Give it a scrub with a toothbrush and liquid soap, and it'll come up sparkling.
In terms of it being a good razor to start with. Yes! Think back in the day it was one of the few choices that you had, so all newcomers to shaving would have picked up something like this as their first razor. To give you the best impression, buy in a pack of known good blades. The Gillette 7 O'Clock in the green pack, for example. That'll give you a baseline to make comparisons from as I'm sure you'll like the shave.
Have fun!