Honestly, the only desirable/reasonably high value Usagi related comic is Albedo #2. None of the actual Usagi comics stand out to me, even #1, as being valuable. I believe Stan even has a supply of #1 left in his garage!
And similar to you, it took me longer to get hold of the Banners print than it did for Autumn Moon.
As for the hardcovers, well you don't have to rush too hard into acquiring them. Many of them do appear on a semi-regular basis on eBay, even a few of the early ones, and for decent prices, so you could probably afford to grab one or two per month. A few will be more expensive, as noted, so you'll probably have to save for those heh. Now I do own them all, spending $70 once per year for the new hardcover isn't much of a hardship. And I am grabbing the Saga books too.
Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
Moderators: Mayhem, Steve Hubbell, Moderators
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Mayhem
- Daimyo <High-Ranking Lord>
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Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
With a breeze comes a storm, but then you'll all be washed away...
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maichan
- Hatamoto<Special Retainer>
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Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
I see I never updated my list, so I shall do that later today.
I've acquired most of the HC now, but am still missing a few. Grasscutter will be the hardest, but I still hope to get my hands on it one day. I have all the softcovers though.
I have also been able to get all the sketchbooks.
I had a fairly complete collection of the comics, since I've been collecting since the Mirage days. I was able to get most of the earlier comics with the help of Dojo members.
Like Mayhem, I'm not concerned with slabbed and graded comics... gotta keep it fun for myself.
I've been on a few sites where people created a Google spreadsheet that can be shared by members... maybe we could do something like that here? Just a thought. Maybe a project for someone a little more in the know than me...
I've acquired most of the HC now, but am still missing a few. Grasscutter will be the hardest, but I still hope to get my hands on it one day. I have all the softcovers though.
I have also been able to get all the sketchbooks.
I had a fairly complete collection of the comics, since I've been collecting since the Mirage days. I was able to get most of the earlier comics with the help of Dojo members.
Like Mayhem, I'm not concerned with slabbed and graded comics... gotta keep it fun for myself.
I've been on a few sites where people created a Google spreadsheet that can be shared by members... maybe we could do something like that here? Just a thought. Maybe a project for someone a little more in the know than me...
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Steve Hubbell
- Taisho
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Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
I think a couple of the scarcer Usagi comics out there are the two Art of Usagi Yojimbo comics published by Radio Comix, they pop up on ebay occasionally but usually with a decent price attached. The Karmatron comic from Mexico with the Usagi pin-up that Mayhem bought is one of my most desired comics currently since I don't own one. 
I managed to pick up my Albedo #2 for approximately $30 (after postage) from an old mail order comic shop after I found it listed in a half price sale ad in an issue of CBG.
A while back, I managed to locate and buy an additional pair of the Banner prints (at original price) from one of the Things From Another World physical brick & mortor stores (as opposed to the on-line store). I sold one of them to Fanfan in France but it disappeared after mailing into the Bermuda Triangle of the international postal delivery system, so I ended up sending him the second print in replacement. Luckily, I already had another of the prints hanging on my wall at the time.
The summer of '99 when those 15th Anniversary Usagi posters were released, I offered to pay for SDCC tickets for my (then) boss's brother, who lived in San Diego, to attend the convention for a day with his two kids IF he could pick up some promotional stuff from Stan for me. Stan must have mentioned the poster on the old forum before the convention because it seems that was the main item I was hoping to get. The good old days when tickets to SDCC could be bought at the door during the convention.
If I had to pick something specific out of my collection as being the most valuable to me, it would have to be the unused alternate ending page of original art from UY #99 (Bridge of Tears) since Stan almost never sells his original published pages to Usagi stories, and the unused pages are as close to owning an actual page of original Usagi art as you can get. Of course, I am very envious of Todd and estee since they both own rarer than rare actual published Usagi original art pages.
Nothing like a good topic to get me blathering on and on and on.....
I managed to pick up my Albedo #2 for approximately $30 (after postage) from an old mail order comic shop after I found it listed in a half price sale ad in an issue of CBG.
A while back, I managed to locate and buy an additional pair of the Banner prints (at original price) from one of the Things From Another World physical brick & mortor stores (as opposed to the on-line store). I sold one of them to Fanfan in France but it disappeared after mailing into the Bermuda Triangle of the international postal delivery system, so I ended up sending him the second print in replacement. Luckily, I already had another of the prints hanging on my wall at the time.
The summer of '99 when those 15th Anniversary Usagi posters were released, I offered to pay for SDCC tickets for my (then) boss's brother, who lived in San Diego, to attend the convention for a day with his two kids IF he could pick up some promotional stuff from Stan for me. Stan must have mentioned the poster on the old forum before the convention because it seems that was the main item I was hoping to get. The good old days when tickets to SDCC could be bought at the door during the convention.
If I had to pick something specific out of my collection as being the most valuable to me, it would have to be the unused alternate ending page of original art from UY #99 (Bridge of Tears) since Stan almost never sells his original published pages to Usagi stories, and the unused pages are as close to owning an actual page of original Usagi art as you can get. Of course, I am very envious of Todd and estee since they both own rarer than rare actual published Usagi original art pages.
Nothing like a good topic to get me blathering on and on and on.....
Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
You just missed out on a copy for a really good price. Had I known it was going to sell for so little I would have thrown in a bid myself. My copy could be upgraded.maichan wrote:Grasscutter will be the hardest
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Usagi-Yojimbo-V ... 7675.l2557
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Steve Hubbell
- Taisho
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Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
WOW! That was cheap!Gaffey wrote:You just missed out on a copy for a really good price. Had I known it was going to sell for so little I would have thrown in a bid myself. My copy could be upgraded.maichan wrote:Grasscutter will be the hardest
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Usagi-Yojimbo-V ... 7675.l2557
Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
Not bad.Steve Hubbell wrote:I managed to pick up my Albedo #2 for approximately $30 (after postage) from an old mail order comic shop after I found it listed in a half price sale ad in an issue of CBG.
Out of curiosity, is it easy to leave finger smudges on the black cover? That drives me crazy!-
maichan
- Hatamoto<Special Retainer>
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Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
Wow. I really need to start watching eBay more often.Gaffey wrote:You just missed out on a copy for a really good price. Had I known it was going to sell for so little I would have thrown in a bid myself. My copy could be upgraded.maichan wrote:Grasscutter will be the hardest
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Usagi-Yojimbo-V ... 7675.l2557
Here is my updated list... updated on 03/18/2015
Hardcovers
Book 1: The Ronin - wanted
Book 2: The Samurai - 559/750 - Stuart Ng Books, CA
Book 3: The Wanderer’s Road – 381/500 - Strand Books, NY
Book 4: The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy - 13/1500 - Stan
Book 5: Lone Goat and Kid - 110/1000 - Stan
Book 6: Circles - wanted
Book 7: Gen's Story - wanted
Book 8: Shades of Death - 131/500 - Half Price Books Dallas
Book 9: Daisho - 372/500 - Ratlas
Book 10: The Brink of Life And Death - 343/500 - Amazon
Book 11: Seasons - 68/500 - Amazon
Book 12: Grasscutter - wanted
Book 13: Grey Shadows - 228/400 - Amazon
Book 14: Demon Mask - 38AP/400 - eBay
Book 15: Grasscutter II - 125/400 - Ratlas
Book 16: The Shrouded Moon - 207/400 - Comics Unlimited
Book 17: Duel at Kitanoji - 358/400 - Ratlas
Book 18: Travels With Jotaro - 18AP/300 - Stan
Book 19: Fathers and Sons – AP/300 - Stan
Book 20: Glimpses of Death - 31/300 - Ratlas
Book 21: Mother of Mountains - 26 PC/300 - Ratlas
Book 22: Tomoe's Story - 294/300 - Ratlas
Book 23: Bridge of Tears - 6/350 - Ratlas
Book 24: Return of Black Soul - 91/350 - Ratlas
Book 25: Fox Hunt - 144/350 - Comics Unlimited
Book 26: Traitors of the Earth – 258/350 - Comics Unlimited
Book 27: A Town Called Hell – 151/350 - Comics Unlimited
Book 28: Red Scorpion - 323/350 - Comics Unlimited
Space Usagi – 23AP/500 - Stan
Saga Book 1 – 65/900 - Comics Unlimited
Saga Book 2 - 203/1500 - Comics Unlimited
Sketchbooks
I have all the sketchbooks. Only Sketchbook 1 is numbered:
Sketchbook 1 – 369/750
I also have these hardcovers:
> Fanatagraphics 2 Volume Special Edition
> The Art of Usagi Yojimbo: 20th Anniversary Edition
> Yokai
> THE SAKAI PROJECT
> 47 Ronin
> The Adventures of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy
Last edited by maichan on Wed Mar 18, 2015 19:47 -0700, edited 7 times in total.
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Maka
- Daimyo <High-Ranking Lord>
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Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
I have Albedo #2 slabbed because that was the way I bought it. 7.0 signed by Stan (for previous owner) eBay BIN $200. The most I have ever paid for a comic but I was a completest.
I since determine that Steve will always have more Usagi publications than me.
I've given up on trying to collect all of the hard covers. I still buy the new hardcovers but I stopped trying to find the ones I am missing.
My favorite Usagi items I own are both original Stan Sakai art. I bought the SDCC UY 20th Anniversary piece (Death of Gen) directly from Stan and he signed it to me. It was a lot of money for me at the time but I wanted to own an Usagi Yojimbo original piece of art. Since Stan is going to donate all his original art, this was the best I could do. The best until this year, when Stan gave me the unused splashed page Senso #6. I still pull that out (I haven't had time to frame it yet) and look at it all the time. The fact that I got both from Stan make it all that more special to me.
Peace, maka
I since determine that Steve will always have more Usagi publications than me.
I've given up on trying to collect all of the hard covers. I still buy the new hardcovers but I stopped trying to find the ones I am missing.
My favorite Usagi items I own are both original Stan Sakai art. I bought the SDCC UY 20th Anniversary piece (Death of Gen) directly from Stan and he signed it to me. It was a lot of money for me at the time but I wanted to own an Usagi Yojimbo original piece of art. Since Stan is going to donate all his original art, this was the best I could do. The best until this year, when Stan gave me the unused splashed page Senso #6. I still pull that out (I haven't had time to frame it yet) and look at it all the time. The fact that I got both from Stan make it all that more special to me.
Peace, maka
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BuckRogers
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Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
Wow! Yes, Steve seems to have the most amazing collection as well as a few other of you around here.
And Steve and Maka's stories of picking up Albedo 2's for $30 and $200, respectfully, blows me away.
I am looking at an 8.5 Albedo 2 right now with my Hulk #1 sale money. Might have to pull trigger and get it and then sit back for awhile and let the dust settle, wife relax and bank account recover!
So loving all of this, though.
For now I think that I will hold off on pursuing old HC's. I will try to save some money in case a "Banners" or a Roku Series Two set shows up for sale. Those two top my "Most Wanted" for now!
And Steve and Maka's stories of picking up Albedo 2's for $30 and $200, respectfully, blows me away.
I am looking at an 8.5 Albedo 2 right now with my Hulk #1 sale money. Might have to pull trigger and get it and then sit back for awhile and let the dust settle, wife relax and bank account recover!
So loving all of this, though.
For now I think that I will hold off on pursuing old HC's. I will try to save some money in case a "Banners" or a Roku Series Two set shows up for sale. Those two top my "Most Wanted" for now!
The Credit Belongs to the Man Who is Actually in the Arena ....
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Mayhem
- Daimyo <High-Ranking Lord>
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Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
My original comments were about the actual Usagi comics. I'll agree with Steve about the "Art Of..." comics, they don't appear very often, I think I got both of those direct from Stan at one SDCC in the past. I'd honestly say none of the Albedo or Critter issues are actually HARD to locate, it's just a question of how much you are willing to pay, although that almost exclusively just applies to Albedo #2. None of the other issues should set you back that much. I've got a full run of the volume 1 of Albedo, and now I managed to locate the Birthright trilogy recently, all 50 issues of Critters as well. A lot of those were bought from MileHigh for next to nothing when they had plenty of stock in general in that area.
I got my Albedo #2 as part of buying that complete volume 1 run, the seller had all 14 issues and one printing of the prototype in the same listing. Ran me about $800 iirc, which wasn't too bad, considering all the comics were in very good condition. So the Albedo #2 itself probably cost me around $600.
Fairly sure I had that original ending page for #99 in my hands, but decided not to buy it. Silly me. Then again, that was probably before I started budgeting a lot higher for SDCC, and before Stan took credit card payments! I had been happy with commissions and portfolio art, as it was more budget friendly heh. Then I bought Stan's TMNT SDCC piece in 2009, and that began the descent into finer things
Or was it the piece from 1986 that Stan drew and then Tom Luth coloured?
(I just checked out of curiosity, issue #99 came out end of 2006, so yeah... eight years ago! And I checked on Heritage Auctions, as that's where the Sakai/Luth piece was auctioned. May 2007. So that was probably the seeds of my doom heh)
As for picking something out of my collection, it's hard to just choose one item! One that is really special to me is this piece, the only pre 1986 example of Stan's commission work I have ever seen.
I got my Albedo #2 as part of buying that complete volume 1 run, the seller had all 14 issues and one printing of the prototype in the same listing. Ran me about $800 iirc, which wasn't too bad, considering all the comics were in very good condition. So the Albedo #2 itself probably cost me around $600.
Fairly sure I had that original ending page for #99 in my hands, but decided not to buy it. Silly me. Then again, that was probably before I started budgeting a lot higher for SDCC, and before Stan took credit card payments! I had been happy with commissions and portfolio art, as it was more budget friendly heh. Then I bought Stan's TMNT SDCC piece in 2009, and that began the descent into finer things
Or was it the piece from 1986 that Stan drew and then Tom Luth coloured?
(I just checked out of curiosity, issue #99 came out end of 2006, so yeah... eight years ago! And I checked on Heritage Auctions, as that's where the Sakai/Luth piece was auctioned. May 2007. So that was probably the seeds of my doom heh)
As for picking something out of my collection, it's hard to just choose one item! One that is really special to me is this piece, the only pre 1986 example of Stan's commission work I have ever seen.
I'll second Steve and echo, wow that was cheap! I think I paid about $200 for my copy... it was a few years back. Probably at least five years, as I think book 23 had only just come out, or was about to come out. Most of my other h/c either came from Stan, or some particular seller on eBay who got hold of a stack of PC editions (publisher copies). The few that were left came from eBay for... occasionally high prices. Wanderer's Road cost me at least $350 iirc. I'm sure it's come way down since, but it still rarely turns up.Gaffey wrote:You just missed out on a copy for a really good price. Had I known it was going to sell for so little I would have thrown in a bid myself. My copy could be upgraded.
With a breeze comes a storm, but then you'll all be washed away...
Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
*removed
Last edited by Gaffey on Fri Feb 13, 2015 7:51 -0700, edited 1 time in total.
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Robert Kassebaum
- Shugyosha<Student Warrior>
- Posts: 66
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Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
Well, I guess I waited long enough. Here are my hardcovers. Most I bought through the comic shop I worked at (got 30% off cover ), some through Amazon, and the AP's from Stan.
Hardcovers
Book 1: The Ronin - 430/750
Book 2: The Samurai - 479/750
Book 3: The Wanderer’s Road – 113/500
Book 4: The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy - 1083/1500
Book 5: Lone Goat and Kid - 356/1000
Book 6: Circles - 406/750
Book 7: Gen's Story - 134/500
Book 8: Shades of Death - 189/500
Book 9: Daisho - 461/500
Book 10: The Brink of Life And Death - 12/500
Book 11: Seasons - 236/500
Book 12: Grasscutter - 100/350
Book 13: Grey Shadows - 189/400
Book 14: Demon Mask - 143/400
Book 15: Grasscutter II - 180/400
Book 16: The Shrouded Moon - 210/400
Book 17: Duel at Kitanoji - 168/400
Book 18: Travels With Jotaro - 113/300
Book 19: Fathers and Sons – 84/300
Book 20: Glimpses of Death - 284/300
Book 21: Mother of Mountains - 66/300
Book 22: Tomoe's Story - 186/300
Book 23: Bridge of Tears - 157/350
Book 24: Return of Black Soul - 90/350
Book 25: Fox Hunt - 44AP/350
Book 26: Traitors of the Earth – 27AP/350
Book 27: A Town Called Hell – 13AP/350
Book 28: Red Scorpion - 32AP/350
Space Usagi – 294/500
), some through Amazon, and the AP's from Stan.Hardcovers
Book 1: The Ronin - 430/750
Book 2: The Samurai - 479/750
Book 3: The Wanderer’s Road – 113/500
Book 4: The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy - 1083/1500
Book 5: Lone Goat and Kid - 356/1000
Book 6: Circles - 406/750
Book 7: Gen's Story - 134/500
Book 8: Shades of Death - 189/500
Book 9: Daisho - 461/500
Book 10: The Brink of Life And Death - 12/500
Book 11: Seasons - 236/500
Book 12: Grasscutter - 100/350
Book 13: Grey Shadows - 189/400
Book 14: Demon Mask - 143/400
Book 15: Grasscutter II - 180/400
Book 16: The Shrouded Moon - 210/400
Book 17: Duel at Kitanoji - 168/400
Book 18: Travels With Jotaro - 113/300
Book 19: Fathers and Sons – 84/300
Book 20: Glimpses of Death - 284/300
Book 21: Mother of Mountains - 66/300
Book 22: Tomoe's Story - 186/300
Book 23: Bridge of Tears - 157/350
Book 24: Return of Black Soul - 90/350
Book 25: Fox Hunt - 44AP/350
Book 26: Traitors of the Earth – 27AP/350
Book 27: A Town Called Hell – 13AP/350
Book 28: Red Scorpion - 32AP/350
Space Usagi – 294/500
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Steve Hubbell
- Taisho
- Posts: 6050
- Joined: Thu Sep 19, 2002 15:25 -0700
- Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
Here is my updated list of S/N hardcovers.....
The Ronin (#409 / 750)
Samurai (#574 / 750)
The Wanderer’s Road (#329 / 1500)
The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy (#101 / 1500)
Lone Goat and Kid (#102 / 1000)
Circles (#361 / 750)
Gen’s Story (#151 / 500)
Shades of Death (#176 / 500)
Daisho (#44 / 500)
The Brink of Life and Death (#226 / 500)
Seasons (#49 / 500)
Grasscutter (#82 / 350)
Grey Shadows (#182 / 400)
Demon Mask (#295 / 400)
Grasscutter Ii: Journey to Atsuta Shrine (#318 / 400)
The Shrouded Moon (#171 / 400)
Duel At Kitanoji (#338 / 400)
Travels with Jotaro (#166 / 300)
Fathers and Sons (#156 / 300)
Glimpses of Death (#__ / 300)
The Mother of Mountains (#33 / 300)
Tomoe’s Story (#201 / 300)
Bridge of Tears (#350 / 350)
Return of the Black Soul (#12 / 350)
Fox Hunt (#194 / 350)
Traitors of the Earth (#189 / 350)
A Town Called Hell (#257 / 350)
Red Scorpion (#159/ 350)
Space Usagi (#15ap / 500)
Saga #1 (#337/ 900)
-------------------------------------
The Groo Chronicles (#25 / 1500)
The Life & Death of Groo (#354 / 1000)
The Ronin (#409 / 750)
Samurai (#574 / 750)
The Wanderer’s Road (#329 / 1500)
The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy (#101 / 1500)
Lone Goat and Kid (#102 / 1000)
Circles (#361 / 750)
Gen’s Story (#151 / 500)
Shades of Death (#176 / 500)
Daisho (#44 / 500)
The Brink of Life and Death (#226 / 500)
Seasons (#49 / 500)
Grasscutter (#82 / 350)
Grey Shadows (#182 / 400)
Demon Mask (#295 / 400)
Grasscutter Ii: Journey to Atsuta Shrine (#318 / 400)
The Shrouded Moon (#171 / 400)
Duel At Kitanoji (#338 / 400)
Travels with Jotaro (#166 / 300)
Fathers and Sons (#156 / 300)
Glimpses of Death (#__ / 300)
The Mother of Mountains (#33 / 300)
Tomoe’s Story (#201 / 300)
Bridge of Tears (#350 / 350)
Return of the Black Soul (#12 / 350)
Fox Hunt (#194 / 350)
Traitors of the Earth (#189 / 350)
A Town Called Hell (#257 / 350)
Red Scorpion (#159/ 350)
Space Usagi (#15ap / 500)
Saga #1 (#337/ 900)
-------------------------------------
The Groo Chronicles (#25 / 1500)
The Life & Death of Groo (#354 / 1000)
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maichan
- Hatamoto<Special Retainer>
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Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
Updated my list. Just received Book 8: Shades of Death - 131/500
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jabba359
- Daimyo <High-Ranking Lord>
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Re: Signed & Numbered Limited Editions.... Who has what?
My copy of Usagi Yojimbo Saga Book 2 just arrived. Got #1398.
-Kyle