"USAGI YOJIMBO STAN SAKAI RAREST PRINT ONLY 25 WORLWIDE
Moderators: Mayhem, Steve Hubbell, Moderators
- Steve Hubbell
- Taisho
- Posts: 6051
- Joined: Thu Sep 19, 2002 15:25 -0700
- Location: Kalamazoo, MI
- Stan Sakai
- Sensei
- Posts: 4896
- Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2002 12:21 -0700
I signed a couple of hundred of this image when I met with Erik one year at Angouleme, France. I remember having the wrong kind of pencil--the lead was too hard and so left too light an impression.
However, I remember it as having a very rectangular proportion, as in the photo, but the description (40x49 cm) is almost square. I don't remember signing another edition of this image, but could have for all I know. I do not have another edition of this print in my archives. Erik did do a couple of very limited items, such as the Dutch UY hardcover edition, but he did give me at least one copy of these.
This image was also used as the cover of one of the UY RPGs.
However, I remember it as having a very rectangular proportion, as in the photo, but the description (40x49 cm) is almost square. I don't remember signing another edition of this image, but could have for all I know. I do not have another edition of this print in my archives. Erik did do a couple of very limited items, such as the Dutch UY hardcover edition, but he did give me at least one copy of these.
This image was also used as the cover of one of the UY RPGs.
- Steve Hubbell
- Taisho
- Posts: 6051
- Joined: Thu Sep 19, 2002 15:25 -0700
- Location: Kalamazoo, MI
More of the story....
Dear Readers,
I know Erik as Enigma.
Enigma is a perfect name because our transactions always take a long and mysterious time.
With persistent patience I bought the wonderful versions of Usagi Yojimbo Enigma published directly from Enigma.
I am still waiting for him to send the hard cover version.
I had asked Enigma if he would sell me one of the rare and beautiful Belgium prints.
One day I got an email from Enigma asking for a favor in trade for a few of the Belgium prints.
Enigma wanted to buy a few small Batman figurines on eBAy for his son but the sellers would only sell to usa addresses.
I agreed to let him use my usa mailing address with the understanding that I would repack the figures and send them all at once to Enigma.
Three bushel apple boxes were shipped to him.
I have never seen so many Batmen, capes, Robins, Jokers, cars, well you get the picture.
Sadly I wish I had taken a picture of the 3 bushel apple boxes on their way to Enigma.
Months later my payment arrived in the form of 3 prints.
A week later Sensei Sakai sent me a present of a Belgium print.
We must have gotten ours at the same time.
Steve Hubble purchased one of the prints from me and that money went to pay for some of the postage I had spent on the 3 bushels of Batmen.
At this point I had broken even financially so the other two prints now belong to two of our fellow Dojo members.
There may be more to the story but this is what I remember today.
The matting covers some of the one I have framed so I cannot measure it accurately.
Sensei Sakai is correct (of course) Badmarru's measurements are incorrect.
I have purchased items from the seller Badmarru and was very happy with the transactions.
Thank you all for the fun!
Best wishes to all.
go
I know Erik as Enigma.
Enigma is a perfect name because our transactions always take a long and mysterious time.
With persistent patience I bought the wonderful versions of Usagi Yojimbo Enigma published directly from Enigma.
I am still waiting for him to send the hard cover version.
I had asked Enigma if he would sell me one of the rare and beautiful Belgium prints.
One day I got an email from Enigma asking for a favor in trade for a few of the Belgium prints.
Enigma wanted to buy a few small Batman figurines on eBAy for his son but the sellers would only sell to usa addresses.
I agreed to let him use my usa mailing address with the understanding that I would repack the figures and send them all at once to Enigma.
Three bushel apple boxes were shipped to him.
I have never seen so many Batmen, capes, Robins, Jokers, cars, well you get the picture.
Sadly I wish I had taken a picture of the 3 bushel apple boxes on their way to Enigma.
Months later my payment arrived in the form of 3 prints.
A week later Sensei Sakai sent me a present of a Belgium print.
We must have gotten ours at the same time.
Steve Hubble purchased one of the prints from me and that money went to pay for some of the postage I had spent on the 3 bushels of Batmen.
At this point I had broken even financially so the other two prints now belong to two of our fellow Dojo members.
There may be more to the story but this is what I remember today.
The matting covers some of the one I have framed so I cannot measure it accurately.
Sensei Sakai is correct (of course) Badmarru's measurements are incorrect.
I have purchased items from the seller Badmarru and was very happy with the transactions.
Thank you all for the fun!
Best wishes to all.
go
- Steve Hubbell
- Taisho
- Posts: 6051
- Joined: Thu Sep 19, 2002 15:25 -0700
- Location: Kalamazoo, MI
OOPS, I just had a chance to look at the issue of the Comics Buyer's Guide and it is not the same picture. Must be the fact that Gen is wearing the same pinkish clothing in both pictures which confused me.Steve Hubbell wrote:I believe the same image was also used as the cover of Comics Buyer's Guide.

- Stan Sakai
- Sensei
- Posts: 4896
- Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2002 12:21 -0700
I really thought I signed more than 25 of those prints, however it was at an Angouleme Festival in France and events are blurred because so much goes on there.
I still have 6 copies of my 15 Exemplaires D'Artiste (Artist Proofs).
Erik has the original watercolor drawing. I traded it for an original Kogaratsu piece Michetz had drawn for a poster. It is just beautiful. Many of you know that the Belgian artist Michetz is my favorite artist of the samurai genre. He is a bit of a recluse, though. I have never met him, even when we had a two-person exhibition at the Japan Tower, a national landmark in Brussels.
I still have 6 copies of my 15 Exemplaires D'Artiste (Artist Proofs).
Erik has the original watercolor drawing. I traded it for an original Kogaratsu piece Michetz had drawn for a poster. It is just beautiful. Many of you know that the Belgian artist Michetz is my favorite artist of the samurai genre. He is a bit of a recluse, though. I have never met him, even when we had a two-person exhibition at the Japan Tower, a national landmark in Brussels.
- TigerRider
- Shugyosha<Student Warrior>
- Posts: 230
- Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 0:43 -0700
- Location: Germany (Trier)
Yes, there are more....
Dear Sensei Sakai,
Yes, Sensei, you did sign more of the Belgium prints.
Some of the Belgium prints you signed were included in a collection of prints Enigma released including other artists works.
Thank you all for the fun!
Best wishes to all.
go
Yes, Sensei, you did sign more of the Belgium prints.
Some of the Belgium prints you signed were included in a collection of prints Enigma released including other artists works.
Thank you all for the fun!
Best wishes to all.
go