Uncle Scrooge FC 495 - March, 6 - 1953.

Rejected artwork finally published 45 years later as the cover for Uncle Scrooge # 312 in 1998.
Earliest drawn Uncle Scrooge cover alternative version published.

Towards the end of 1952 Barks relocated to a rented cottage near an orange grove outside Hemet.
The owners of the attached ranch were Donald and Nancy Robinson.
When Carl had made the first finished drawing for Uncle Scrooge # 3 ( USFC # 495 ) the editors at Western rejected this first cover idea for the cover because of the knife in ”Jack in the Box” mouth and they also wanted Scrooge to look more ”happy” than surprised..
So Barks made a second cover, which was then finally approved and used as the published cover at the time.
The first ( or alternative ) cover he thereaafter gave to the Family Robinson`s son Timmy, who was around 10 years at the time.
It is not known if Carl himself or his wife Garè Barks made the coloring on the drawing.
But most certainly Carl did approve the drawing in colors before it was given to Timmy.
So here we actually have an example how Carl himself might have preferred Scrooge`s jacket in color ; not red ( as a Publisher would like it for the obvious eye appeal ) but more in a sand colored tone.
The alternative cover was finally published as Uncle Scrooge # 312 in 1998.( see Photo )
So after 45 years the 1953 cover was finally ”accepted” and published..