Hardcover advice please

[Trevis Woods]

I need some advice on collecting the original hardcovers.
I have the opportunity to purchase three or four hardcovers for about $55 to $60 each but I do not know if this is a road I should venture down or not. It isn't the entire collection but it is a start.
I would like to hear from some of you on your experience with this topic.
-Did any of you start buying the HC's really late and have still never completed the collection?
-Did any of you start buying them and then regret it because the task has just become impossible to complete both financially and even just locating all of them?
-With the new Saga editions, I feel like people are purging their collections and selling these off. Is that just me or are HC's easier to find now?
-I have all the soft cover trades as well as the Saga editions(HC and SC) but I'm always looking to expand my collection in an attempt to find everything. Is this silly to try and start this search with 30 volumes to hunt for?
-Is my money and time better spent on original art, new Saga editions, Gallery editions and other misc. Usagi items? I don't collect any other comics so Usagi is really my only hobby.

I'm sure I will think of a few more questions but I really would love to hear some input and advice from you all.
Thanks!

[maichan]

Good questions.
Let me start by quoting myself from my collection thread...http://usagiyojimbo.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5965

Although I have been a follower and fan of Usagi Yojimbo for many years, I did not really get 'serious' until mid 2011.

I first started buying the comics (new, as published) with Usagi Yojimbo Volume 2 from Mirage and moved on to the Dark Horse publications.

During all those years I also began to collect the trade paperbacks, but I never bought a hardcover until last week (late 2011).

I just recently finished collecting all the hardcovers. It took me over 4 years, but I did it (It actually felt much longer for some reason).

Often times I thought I'd never complete the task, but in the end it all worked out. Was it cheap? No. While I was able to get many books at retail or near retail, others were more expensive (2 to 3 times retail). I think I may have begun my quest at just the right time, or at least it seemed that way. I was able to buy all my 'new' books from my local comic book shop. I bought a number of books directly from Stan, and still others from fellow Dojoboard members. I bought books off eBay, and found several in a variety of other locations either by chance or from a lead provided by helpful Dojo members. Sometimes I'd buy a book, only to see another soon after for a better price - but the the risk/gamble we take in such a venture.

If all you want is to have all the stories at you disposal, then I think the TPB's are a safest way to go. I'm a bit of a completist (not as bad as Steve though), so I wanted to get all the hardcovers. I like hardcovers to start out with, and the fact they were signed and numbered helped to spur my desire in them.

In the end it's up to you. It might take 5 years for you too, or less, or more. If you decide to go for it, I'd suggest to set goals and limits (especially price-wise). Don't get discouraged or depressed if you can't achieve your goals. When I was buying, I realized I may never acquire some books, and I could live with that, but I never gave up my hopes... I persevered and achieved my goal. So it can be done - just be aware it may not come quick, easy or cheap.

Good luck to you!

[maichan]

P.S. - you might also find this helpful... my recap of the last book I had to hunt down... http://usagiyojimbo.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7533

[Steve Hubbell]

It is all about the joy of the search and the pleasure of the find!

-Did any of you start buying the HC's really late and have still never completed the collection?

I started buying them relatively late, but I eventually found them all...

-Did any of you start buying them and then regret it because the task has just become impossible to complete both financially and even just locating all of them?

Never regretted it, but I know I paid a lot more then than I probably would now.

-With the new Saga editions, I feel like people are purging their collections and selling these off. Is that just me or are HC's easier to find now?

Yes, there do SEEM TO BE more hardcover editions up for sale now, or it could be that now that I don't need any, it just seems that way.

-I have all the soft cover trades as well as the Saga editions(HC and SC) but I'm always looking to expand my collection in an attempt to find everything. Is this silly to try and start this search with 30 volumes to hunt for?

I don't think I am qualified to answer this one fairly....

-Is my money and time better spent on original art, new Saga editions, Gallery editions and other misc. Usagi items? I don't collect any other comics so Usagi is really my only hobby.

I believe in spending money on the things I find enjoyment in, and even though I enjoy "collecting" comics, I have difficulties finding any other comics that I enjoy anywhere near as much as Usagi Yojimbo. The only real runner-ups for me are Sergio Aragones' Groo and the long ago completed Lone Wplf & Cub manga. All the other comics I buy / have bought are just an excuse to "collect" comics and an attempt to find ones I might enjoy (the Goon, Hellboy, Shi: Way of the Warrior, Madman, Concrete, etc.)

[Lobster Johnson]

Good question. I've been thinking about this myself lately, as I recently purchased my first hardcovers. Owning all of the hardcovers is not that important to me, but I would like to collect them when I can. I think I've decided what I am going to do. I don't think I will try to collect all of them; there are a lot of them, and that could easily end up being pretty expensive. In general, I'd rather put that money towards original art.
However, I will still be collecting some of them. Judging by the hardcovers I have, they are very high quality and I definitely enjoy reading and owning them. My plan is to collect the ones that become available through Stan's website shop. That way, I'm supporting Stan directly and getting the books in new condition, and there is the possibility of getting the books signed and/or sketched beyond what is on the tip in plate.

[Mayhem]

Of course, the Saga editions will only start from book 8. The first seven hardcovers (from Fantagraphics) may still remain a bit harder to find if people are not selling those off in light of the Saga editions on sale, and despite the Usagi SE that came out.

I started quite a while back in getting the hardcovers. When Grasscutter was hard to find (it still is really, given only 350 were made), Wanderer's Road was the most expensive one to get, and certain editions did seem to command a premium. When we didn't really know a lot about these library editions. Maybe not too surprisingly, Grasscutter WAS the last hardcover (at the time) I needed, and then have gotten each new book as it is released. My comic shop always orders one in for me now, in case I don't get it direct from Stan.

I never thought it impossible, just it might take some time and patience... and eventually copies would surface. A bunch of AP and PP appeared (not from Stan) on eBay one time which helped the middle run for me. I think some editions are getting easier to find, if the listings on eBay are anything to go by.

[Steve Hubbell]

I actually think some of the tpb editions seem harder to find in nice shape for affordable prices.

(I have to admit to having a large gap in the Dark Horse tpbs from Book 8 - Book 20)

[Lobster Johnson]

I actually think some of the tpb editions seem harder to find in nice shape for affordable prices.

(I have to admit to having a large gap in the Dark Horse tpbs from Book 8 - Book 20)

Yeah, I know... when I was looking for tpb copies of volumes 23-25, they were going for about $400 each if I remember correctly.

[Stan Sakai]

You could always try contacting Daniel. We have some of those trades at, I'm sure, pretty affordable prices, comparatively.

I actually think some of the tpb editions seem harder to find in nice shape for affordable prices.

(I have to admit to having a large gap in the Dark Horse tpbs from Book 8 - Book 20)

[Shadowfax]

Funny this topic came up just now. I too noticed that a lot of the limited edition hardcover books were coming up on eBay. For a long time I thought I would stay away from these, too expensive, and too hard to complete the full set. But I jumped in just last Summer, and since July, I have been able to purchase 21 "back issues" plus 5 more limited edition books as they were published. My average cost for these 26 hardcovers comes to $65 apiece, and the most I have had to pay was $112 with shipping. The cheapest was $40. Surprisingly, they all seem to be in pretty nearly mint condition. Folks cherish their Usagi hardcovers!

I've managed to get all the editions with print runs of 300 or 350, but it turns out the first 9 are the hardest, regardless of the size of the print run.

It's a serious money investment, no doubt, but a lot easier now than it appeared to be a year or two ago! I still wonder, how many complete sets can exist, when the max print run is 300 plus some publisher's copies?! Grab those middle volumes 18 -- 22 when they become available.

Shadowfax

[Gaffey]

The hardcovers are a lot easier to find now that the Saga editions have flooded the market. That's a good and bad thing. I purchased most of mine from Heritage Source many moons ago. I think they were all cover price with a sketch included. I love the way they look on the shelf. I wish the Special Edition hardcovers (Fantagraphics) were the same size as the Saga versions.

Anyway, now I buy new hardcovers from InStockTrades for 42% to 44% off of cover price. If you want APs you can get them directly from Stan's shop.

Like others have pointed out, you'll probably have to pay a bit more than cover price for some. A really nice copy of Grasscutter just sold on eBay for $80.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Usagi-Yojimbo-B ... Sw-zxWpVm3

PS - If you decide to start buying the hardcovers I have an extra Town Called Hell I'd sell ya for less than cover.

[Trevis Woods]

Great insight and info from everybody. I knew I would not be let down. After all the discussion I'm going for it. Worst case scenario I get a little over half of them and still have a nice set on my shelf. It will also give my family a nice list of birthday and Christmas presents for the next few years. No more "I wonder what I should get him this year".

I've managed to get all the editions with print runs of 300 or 350, but it turns out the first 9 are the hardest, regardless of the size of the print run.

It's a serious money investment, no doubt, but a lot easier now than it appeared to be a year or two ago! I still wonder, how many complete sets can exist, when the max print run is 300 plus some publisher's copies?! Grab those middle volumes 18 -- 22 when they become available.

Shadowfax

Out of curiosity, what is the reasoning behind grabbing 18-22 as soon as possibe? Hardest to find for you?

[maichan]

Out of curiosity, what is the reasoning behind grabbing 18-22 as soon as possibe? Hardest to find for you?

18 thru 22 had the smallest runs. Only 300 of each.

[Shadowfax]

Maichan sez:

18 thru 22 had the smallest runs. Only 300 of each.

Yes, exactly so, but for some reason they are not the hardest to find right now, nor the most expensive. Go figure. Any coin collector will tell you mint run (or print run) matters a great deal in the long run!

Shadowfax

[Steve Hubbell]

Maichan sez:

18 thru 22 had the smallest runs. Only 300 of each.

Yes, exactly so, but for some reason they are not the hardest to find right now, nor the most expensive. Go figure. Any coin collector will tell you mint run (or print run) matters a great deal in the long run!

Shadowfax

The Polish editions of Books 18 and 19 were definitely the hardest to find out of the whole Egmont series of Usagi Yojimbo books....