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Post by shadowfax on Apr 6, 2021 10:17:34 GMT -5
Question for the experts:
I'm seeing many listings for Usagi #1 on eBay, all touting the "first printing." But the ones that bother to picture the inside front cover show: "Usagi Yojimbo #1, July, 1987." And further down the masthead: "First Printing: March, 1987."
Is this the actual "first print?" Are there copies that read "Usagi Yojimbo #1, March, 1987" instead?
Inquiring minds want to know . . . and caveat emptor, and all that.
Shadowfax
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Apr 6, 2021 11:10:29 GMT -5
Just checked. Mine says July 1987 as well.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2021 13:13:09 GMT -5
Question for the experts: I'm seeing many listings for Usagi #1 on eBay, all touting the "first printing." But the ones that bother to picture the inside front cover show: "Usagi Yojimbo #1, July, 1987." And further down the masthead: "First Printing: March, 1987." Is this the actual "first print?" Are there copies that read "Usagi Yojimbo #1, March, 1987" instead? Inquiring minds want to know . . . and caveat emptor, and all that. Shadowfax honestly, if you want 1st appearance Usagi?
go for "Albedo" #2:  |
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Apr 8, 2021 16:40:37 GMT -5
If I had to guess, it's simply that it was convention at the time to have the cover date be roughly three months after the actual printing date - this was a holdover from newsstand days when the publishers were trying to trick vendors into leaving their comics out on the stands longer. My guess is that the "cover date" was July, but it was printed in March, hence the two dates inside the book.
That's just a guess!
Does anyone have a second printing to see what that says inside?
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Post by caseyburns on Apr 8, 2021 22:41:42 GMT -5
I have both, but can't access them at the moment. The second printing says "second printing" in small sideways type on the back cover, bottom right of the Digger Duckbill illustration. Not sure if the indicia are identical, but I would guess they are, since they went to the trouble to note it on the outside cover (likely a cost effective choice to add a line of text to the black plate on the cover, rather than strip in an all new indicia).
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Post by shadowfax on Apr 9, 2021 7:02:48 GMT -5
Bert, it wasn't a question of first appearance, but rather the "bibliometrics" of Fantagraphics issue #1. Casey, I think you've come up with the answer we needed!
Thanks all,
Shadowfax
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