collectibles - Usagi Yojimbo Book 4 Hardcover

mgk2006 · Post by **mgk2006** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:42 -0700

I was just reading the list of collectibles and noticed Usagi Yojimbo Book 4 Hardcover is in there at #3.

Why is this hardcover more collectable than any others?

I am just wondering because I have it in a box somewhere!

Post by **Maka** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:06 -0700

mgk2006 wrote:I was just reading the list of collectibles and noticed Usagi Yojimbo Book 4 Hardcover is in there at #3.

Why is this hardcover more collectable than any others?

I think the collectables list may need to be updated.

That said, I think #4 hardcover is more collectable because it has previously unpublished story (in beautiful water color). That story has been reprinted in Art of UY.

Personally, I think the currrent Hardcovers will be "worth" more because there are not as many made (the last few were 300 copies each). Basic supply and demand.

UY #4 had a great story (including the water color story). One of my favorites.

Peace, maka

madman31 · Post by **madman31** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:10 -0700

According to Stan at San Diego, Hardcover #3 is completely sold out. I don't know if that is the only one or not, but it is the only one I am missing as well. I'd like to see an update of the collectibles list as well.

MikeM · Post by **MikeM** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:22 -0700

I just got my first hardcover (volume 21)
Looks like its going to be a long hard road getting those other 20.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:06 -0700

A few facts about UY Book 4: It sold out immediately upon printing, but so has the more recent editions. It had a color story, which has since been reprinted in The Art of UY. Each copy had an original full drawing on the signature plate. Nowadays I just do a head sketch. This book also had the largest print run, and I still have a bunch of copies left.

I think Book 12: Grasscutter is much scarcer. A copy had gone for more than $300 on e-bay. Book 1 sold for just over $200.

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 15:31 -0700

Yeah, that list was created before eBay even existed

It is true that all other UY Hardcovers are actually more scarce, but actually are just hardcover versions of the softcovers. Book 4 came out as a hardcover first, with the softcover published later on with a different cover (which has now been changed back to the hardcover's cover). Maka already mentioned the watercolor story, which was never reprinted until UY V3 #10 (in re-worked B&W) and finally in its original watercolor form in the Art of UY book.

Adding to Book 4 HC's uniqueness is the fact that it's actually lightly larger horizontally than any other UY HC.

Book 4 HC used to be very hard to come by, mainly because it was the most "in-demand" HC. Now that all of it's content is readily available elsewhere, demand has dropped off. Now it's as commonly found as Albedo NR 2

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 16:32 -0700

Book 4 was the first UY collection to be printed in hard cover. That is why I did that new water color story and original drawings--just to make it a bit more special.

mgk2006 · Post by **mgk2006** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 21:07 -0700

Thanks everyone!

I remember I preordered it from Fantagraphics, and it was pretty exciting to have something that Stan had actually signed and numbered and drawn in! I used to have a fridge magnet too, although I have no idea where it has gotten to.

So the obvious question has to be - what should the list really say?

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collectibles - Usagi Yojimbo Book 4 Hardcover

collectibles - Usagi Yojimbo Book 4 Hardcover

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