Yellow Kid

Jeff told me that the concluding BBQ at the Caddo Peak Ranch was always amazing--I would be tempted to go just for that!

Having Jeff and Claudia visit was a delight, and we hope they'll be back. We're not exactly on the main route to anywhere, which is why we're here.

About 15 years ago, Mal asked me to sell his run of MMM's for him for $15K. When they arrived, I was apeechless as issue after issue was just beautiful. I asked $25K and the first dealer I mentioned them to, bought them. They were so nice that he sold them for $35K a few days later. I had alwalys regretted not buying them myself as I thought I would never see a nicer set. However, tb has put together a plan and followed it, and the result is the nicest collection of MMM's I have ever seen, or even heard of. And the great thing about tb's collection is that it is going to continue to get better and better for many years to come. Congratulations, tb, you have built a magnificent collection.

Sadly, when Mal had the book bound, it was virtually perfect. The water damage occured years later, showing that misfortune can strike even bound books.

Oops. I just noticed that across the title in black block letters, it reads, "COMPLIMENTARY COPY NOT TO BE SOLD." I mention this because technically it would be another difference. I posted a picture of my copy on this thread some time ago. I think it was under "WDC+S #4 Mickey Mouse Magazine ad" but I'm not sure. I guess you could also find it at Photobucket.

The only difference between the WDCS #4 promo copy and the regular copy is that yellow block of advertising in the lower right hand corner of the cover. About 40 years ago, a LCS owner in New Orleans (not Ciorac) called me and said he had just bought a collection and he was holding a few pieces out for me. Because I was an obsessive-compulsive collector, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the promo copy. The dealer said that because of its rarity, he wanted double guide, so I happily paid him for what is still the rarest book in my collection. As a Disney specialist, I had to have it and would have paid much more. He had a lot of other early Disney books in his buy, but nothing unusual.

Rich, refresh my memory on the Crescent City collection. Were all three of those present in it? If so, how nice were they? I know I should remember but it has been a long time since I made that purchase and owned them for such a short time Bill, Actually none of them were in it because Leonard wasn't able to find them in the condition he liked. Years earlier he had a beautiful FC #4, absolutely gorgeous, but he sold it to a good friend/customer who specialized in Disney, and he was never able to replace it. He had never even seen the WDCS #4 promo until I showed him my copy.

I've always believed that the DD FC #4 was the rarest Disney comic book, across all grades. The Mickey Mouse FC #16 gives it a run in higher grades, but not in lower grades where it is relatively common. The only book rarer in my experience is the WDCS #4 with the promotional ad probably sent to formerMickey Mouse Magazine subscribers. For me, the MM FC #16 is one of the greatest comic books ever published, but the DD FC #4 is clearly rarer and it is a real treat to see such a beautiful copy. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Your three beautiful copies of the April, 1940, MMM, remind me of the title of the second Barks litho: AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES! Your WDCS #10 is the nicest copy that I have ever seen--the colors are just beautifiul. Great books!

Nice books, Frank! The first ten Barks WDCS are really hard to find in nice condtion and you have two pretty ones. Even the next ten are tough to find, but after #50 things get a lot easier. Congratulations! Rich

Bill, It sure didn't take you long after moving east to make a great buy! Congratulations! Rich

Beautiful books! The duck four colors have always been my favorites. I hope you will add Frozen Gold and The Magic Hourglass to your want list. FG has two great Barks stories, where the second might be better than the first and served as a swipe for an Uncle Scrooge story, while TMH had to be inspired by Ancient Persia and they go together nicely. Congratulations on some great books.

Bill, You got the perfect book for someone who loves GA books with yellow covers! Now what are you going to do to top it? Rich

I've bought several newer books from them and have always been happy. The grading has been fine and they send them out quickly.

Great posts, Jeff! Over the years, I have found that I can get as much enjoyment out of a recreation or an enlarged print as an original painting, so I think you are on the right track! Rich

That's a beautiful set, Jeff, especially the #6!

You got a great assortment of early Fawcetts, Bill!

Wie geht's, Wilhelm!

Thanks for sharing, Jeff, those are some great books. I like a lot of the peripheral material from the 1930's as much as the comic books themselves. The premiums, BLB's, gum cards, games, coloring books, etc., all have the same great graphic art. Beautiful stuff!

Another beautiful book for your collection, and a Maxon cover no less! Congrats!

I was the underbidder and really liked that book. I'm glad it went to someone on the board. Richard

Great book, Jeff! All of those early reprint comics are wonderful. Rich

There is a great product made by Picture Shields (pictureshields.com) that I purchased several months ago and it seems to work, although the real test will be over several years. Still, there was no immediate fading of reds, which makes me very optimistic. The great thing is that you can order standard pre-cut sizes, custom sizes, or sheets and cut your own. The prices seem reasonable to me. Richard

I think the IDW series is great. I especially like the way that the Sunday is integrated into the sequence in the LOA books, as it is a integral part of the story. The next LOA will have the introduction of Punjab and the Eli Eon sequence, which I think was one of the great story lines in the history of the comic (the other one being the Great Am) and appears to me to be as relevant today as it was 75 years ago. The Hermes Buck Rogers books are great, and are shot from the original art. In addition, Hermes has a few of the leading BR collectors helping fill in any gaps. The only problem with the books is that they always have one publication delay after another. Finally, the new Prince Valiant series is wonderful. Oversized, great color, nice paper, and so much better than the paperback series. Rich

When I sold the collection of my old friend, Leonard Brown, to Ciorac and all of those beautiful Disney comics were involved, the one US that he had in less than pefect condition was #6. Examining it, it was clear that the cover was cut much larger than the interior pages, which quickly led to edge wear. My copy is very nice but shows signs of some of those same problems. A person would have had to have bought one and put it away without reading it, which wasn't likely in those days.