What's the most collectible Usagi item?

[goandal]

Hi guys,

Wondering what UY rarity is out there. What do you guys think? Issue #1, rare discontinued action figure?

Thanks!

[Shadowfax]

Depends on your criteria: the most *desirable* item is a nice copy of Albedo Anthropomorphics #2, the cover is the first appearance of our hero. However, it is not hard to get a copy, if you are willing to spend several thousand dollars -- they pop up on eBay every month.

In my experience, one of the rarer comics to find is the Space Usagi Volume 2 No.1 ashcan issue from Mirage publishers, 5 x 8 inches b&w with a yellow cover. By the same measure, only two have come up on eBay in about the past 10 years, but you can probably buy it for under $150. *if* you can find it.

Others on the board should chime in concerning stuff such as limited edition prints -- I'm sure there are some items where only 100 - 200 copies exist, and there are many more serious collectors than that!

For me personally, the most desirable collectible is a nice commissioned piece of artwork by Stan Sakai -- unique, personal, and priceless! You probably won't see any of those up for sale, unless the original owner dies! Gotta get your own.

Shadowfax

[Steve Hubbell]

For me, most collectable means hardest to find.....

The Westfield Newsletter (March 1993) which includes a Usagi Yojimbo cover

Diamond Previews Catalog (May 1997) which includes 2 pages of Usagi Yojimbo Green Persimmon story (part 9)

[Steve Hubbell]

I guess another way to look at it is "the most collectable Usagi item is the actual stories. It does not matter what the format (i.e. comics, tpb, omnibus, or gallery edition), the stories are the most important Usagi item and without them, none of the rest matters......

[Gaffey]

I would think the bronze Roku Toys statues are high on that list. How many sets are out there?

[jabba359]

I would think the bronze Roku Toys statues are high on that list. How many sets are out there?

I have never even heard of those. Are there any pictures? I couldn't find anything.

[Gaffey]

I would think the bronze Roku Toys statues are high on that list. How many sets are out there?

I have never even heard of those. Are there any pictures? I couldn't find anything.

Grrrr. All the links are dead. I can't even find Fanfan's SDCC report when he took photos of them sitting on Stan's table. However, I did find out that they were prototypes given to Stan. Sooooo, I suppose only one set exists. They are really cool looking. Hopefully Steve has a photo tucked away somewhere on his computer.

The following post was by Roel back in 2009.

These were the prototypes I gave Stan with the bronze finish. The plan for Katsuichis eye will be an interchangeable eyebrow/eyepatch. Jotaro will come with a Tokage.

Fanfan's personal website no longer works so I can't even look for old SDCC reports there. I loved looking at his photos from his travels around the world.

[Maka]

Maybe this - I know of only two that exist. I don’t own it. https://flic.kr/p/27giXfp

Peace, maka

[goandal]

Those Roku toys were amazing. I remember there was a contest to win those.

Thanks for the replies guys.

[Mayhem]

Collectable means what the most people are probably after, or want in their collection to me, and that would be Albedo #2. Plenty of Usagi things rarer than that mind... I will treasure my SDCC thumbnail sheet for example

[Trevis Woods]

I would agree with most of this list.
Albedo 2
Original art
Space Usagi ashcan...I've bid on one of the two listed on ebay but lost

-I would add Usagi Yojimbo Saga Vol. 1 HC....These are still a guaranteed sell price of $300-$500 with PC/AP editions at the high end of that.

-Grasscutter HC very rarely becomes available and I have never seen a The Wander's Road vol.3 HC ever on ebay. Still missing from my collection

-SDCC Usagi figure from last year will still set you back $125-$175

-The Usagi Banners print would also be on my list as something that is probably unattainable.

[Gaffey]

Comic - I would agree with Albedo 2 being the most desirable item overall considering there are less than 2000 in existence. Not only are you competing with Usagi fans, but now you're up against speculators and comic collectors in general.

Prints - I believe the rarest print is the Nilson/Usagi from 1986(?). I have never seen one on comic art fans, eBay or even here on the DojoBoard.

[Steve Hubbell]

-The Usagi Banners print would also be on my list as something that is probably unattainable.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1991-Stan-Saka ... SwC-JasWYW

[Shadowfax]

How about "cross-over" collectibles, that would be of interest to others besides hardcore Usagi fans?

There's the Boy Scout 2015 World Jamboree Troop 301 Western Region Usagi Yojimbo patches, a slew of those to collect to put together a set!

T-Shirts from "The Hundreds." (I assume they have a following who can afford to buy their 'global street culture' clothing, regardless of what is on it).

Usagi art featured on convention programs, books, cards, etc. that get snapped up by everybody attending . . .

Other ideas?

Shadowfax

[Maka]

I used to have the Usagi metal figures that you could paint for the Usagi role playing game. I traded it with a fan here or sold it at cost. I can’t remember. A crossover to role playing gamers. Peace, maka