Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

I noticed this week that an Artist's Proof of one of the Hardcovers was for sale on ebay this week, and ended up selling for around $65. I also have an Artist's Proof of Fathers and Sons. If I may, I would like to ask a few questions:

1. Are Artist's Proofs part of the numbering? In other words, do APs count as part of the 300-copy print run?

2. What is the purpose of an AP in the first place?

3. How do they get into circulation? I assume they are not sent to stores via Diamond as the "non artist's proofs" are.

Any light that anyone can shed on this would be greatly appreciated.

Artist Proofs are my personal copies, and are not counted in the 300 numbered editions. The same goes for the Publisher Proofs that sometimes pop up on ebay.

I don't know how many PPs there are, but there are 35 APs. The 5 lowest numbers, that is AP 1-5, are kept for myself and my immediate family members and a copy for my archives. The next five, that is numbers 6-10, I may sell refluctantly. I also keep a studio copy for reference. The rest are given away to close friends and family, or sold at conventions and signings.

I really don't consider APs any more special than the regular editions. However, many people do because they did belong to the artist. One distinction with the APs is that all the legitimate ones in circulation have an additional original drawing (besides the tip-in) on the title page(Fantagraphics editions) or on a blank facing page (Dark Horse).

Stan Sakai wrote:I really don't consider APs any more special than the regular editions. However, many people do because they did belong to the artist. One distinction with the APs is that all the legitimate ones in circulation have an additional original drawing (besides the tip-in) on the title page(Fantagraphics editions) or on a blank facing page (Dark Horse).

....and it's this additional drawing that makes my AP copy of "Fathers and Sons" very special in deed !!

Thanks for the info, Stan. That's very helpful and informative.

Oh, and I made a mistake--my AP is for Travels with Jotaro, and is number 12AP. And it does have the additional sketch, so I know it's legit.

Thanks again.