Carl Barks' earliest surviving comic book artwork, page 4B from Trade Rat / WDC&S #52
Artist: Carl Barks (All)
11 Comments - 3,080 Views - 10 Likes
Additional Images:
Kim Weston: The origin of Trade Rat page
The correction; stitches
The art and printed page
The art & WDC #52
WDC #52 Carl Barks personal file copy p1A
WDC #52 CarlBarks personal file copy
Artwork Details
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DescriptionThis artwork has have significant impact into my life.It is the the lower half from 4th page from the ”Thievery Afoot” (aka ”Trade Rat”) story from Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #52 (Jan 1945) and this page is the earliest surviving Carl Barks' comic book artwork. It is also the only survived Barks' original comic book page from his production published then in 1942-1958. Barks also made Silent Night story, (9.5/10 from its original artwork survived) but it was too violent then, rejected, and published first time in 1970s. And there is some other survived pages from 1950s what Barks himself or the publisher rejected then, and they were published later. According Barks' own book keeping this story was sent to his publisher in August 24th in 1944, he normally sent immediately stories once made them. In the newstands this WDC #52 was in November. In the artwork is a quite funny mistake, on the 2nd panel (=6th panel of the page) Barks had first inked stitches for the live rat, mixed them, and then corrected them ;-) Now it is time to correct also my own quite embarrassing mistake, repeated already so many times. I have earned my living from numbers and still managing to surprise myself how awful mistakes I have done now and then... I stated in my book "Carl Barks' Surviving Comic Book Art" in 1994 this is the 5th page but it is actually the 4th page! What I wrote then in my book about how this page survived, now thanks to Kim Weston, having more detailed description in the attached picture. The upper half of this page was sold last time in 1977 by Russ Cochran (his catalog #11) at $1000 and since that it has been in this very remarkable collection: http://www.fantagraphics.com/blightedeye/ How I did got this artwork? I asked 1989 from Bruce Hamilton would he have any Barks original artwork for sale, and maybe I just had a lucky timing, first he offered a page from US # 60, but I asked if there would be some more and he offered this. In his letter Bruce stated this is not only the earliest known published comic book art by Barks but also the best! OK, I am not daring to state this is the best once it is always subjective opinion, but at least it is the oldest, and as the composition also very nice art. What was also very nice is that Bruce asked would I like to get Barks' signature once it was missing from there, what else could I answer then "yes, please!" ;-) Bruce told he needs to ship to Barks and getting back, and then shipping to me. Finally I got that wooden box. It was really great moment opening it and got the artwork! But what I didn't noticed until my mother asked... she looked that box, had flipped the cover and said "what is this address here?" - Naturally there was my address on top of it, but she turned it around, and guess what was in the other side? - Carl Barks' address in Grants Pass, Oregon! At that time it was big secret, impossible to get. And I got it by an accident! ;-) OK, then I wrote back to Bruce and told that maybe I got now Barks' address, I need to send a fan letter for him, but please don't worry, I am not spreading this further. It looked that Bruce and Carl didn't kept me completely nuts (just slightly enough...) and I managed to start correspondence. Which lead into that in 1990 I asked if I could make visit there. Bruce as Barks' agent then said, first needing to come to Arizona at Another Rainbow's office, and then they will check can they send us (me & my sister) further to meet Caré & Carl in Grant Pass. All went well and after the meeting I slowly started developing my idea that I want to make a study. After collecting first enough printed material, then some originals, what's left in my hobby? There existed Barks indexes by Michael Barrier's and Markku Kivekäs, and Another Rainbow's "bible" about Disney Duck oil paintings, the thing what was missing was list of survived originals by Barks. So, I started studying this, the rest is history, finished it in summer 1994, managed to give fresh copy to Carl when he visited in Helsinki. I was also extremely happy when recently got Barks' personal file copy of WDC #52, getting together his original artwork and THE comic book he had it. Barks did not get any copies from Western Publishing, he really needed to buy comic books where his stories were printed, so it is also bought by the master himself! (ref Donald Ault's interview 1973). Geoffrey Blum kindly told a bit background why and how there exists few comic books with the label THIS COMIC IS THE PERSONAL FILE COPY OF CARL BARKS: "Barks marked his old comics in that manner, I think in the late 1970s. Someone had stolen a bunch of old Disney comics out of Donald Ault’s university office, and Barks became worried that somebody might try to steal from him as well". This Trade Rat story has been printed in 24 countries so far, to see more details, please check: https://inducks.org/story.php?c=W+WDC++52-02 Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Monty B 
Member Since 2006
Posted on 8/9/2019
Wonderful and historic piece!!! I’m happy that you finally put it up on CAF for all of us to enjoy...congrats again my friend ! :-))
Søren M
Member Since 2008
Posted on 8/9/2019
Finally..!! :-) Thanks Matti, for sharing one of the biggest treasures of survived Barks artwork. I have waited a long tme for seeing this earliest survived comic book artwork by Carl Barks. Thanks also for the wonderful story behind it. This is what CAF is really all about..:-) Wonderful - and congrats a lot once again.
Antonio Menici
Member Since 2006
Posted on 8/9/2019
It is wonderful to admire this gem of Carl Barks' work again!
Jeff Gorrell
Member Since 2017
Posted on 8/9/2019
Wonderful! And your story with the documented pages of the comic itself is fascinating. Thanks for posting this.
Monty B
Member Since 2006
Posted on 1/1/2021
Such a stunning page!!! I've been wondering if it could be possible to see a picture of the full page (without Passepartout)? :-)))
Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004
Posted on 1/29/2022
Wow! It is as impressive artistically as it is historically.
Home for Ducks Collection
Member Since 2006
Posted on 4/20/2022
Great half page and excitingly told story of this page until you got it.
William B.
Member Since 2004
Posted on 1/20/2024
Greatest art - and greatest story, thank you very much for sharing!
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