Carl Barks ; WDC&S # 268, Upper half, page 2. Original artwork 1962.

Walt Disney Comics & Stories # 268, Upper half of page 2.

..After purchasing the lower half page from WDC # 268 page, I thought of asking “J.B” if he might remembered to whom he, back in 1967 gave the upper half of page 2 from “Christmas Cheers”.
The thought of bringing the two half pages together after more than half a century of separation just kept on circling in my mind..Could this “Mission Impossible” ever be realistic..?
J.B. actually did remember the recipient of the upper half page and after some further investigation I found the guy, who`s name was “Mike”.
Surprisingly “Mike” still had the upper half page. He had always been a great admirer of Scrooge McDuck but after 52 years it might be the right time for him to sell the half page, as he responded. My mission in bringing the two halfs together again also appealed to Mike.
So – now my mission has finally been completed ; The whole page 2 from WDC & S. # 268 ; “Christmas Cheers” has once again been brought together..!
Let me tell you a little about the upper half page and it`s qualities :
The first thing you will notice is the total lack of ducks on this half page.. I don`t know how many half pages Barks drew with absolutely no ducks on it – but it can`t have been many..And this one might be the only example of published artwork survived.
Though missing Ducks completely I still find the upper half page very appealing and interesting.
First of all it seems to inform the reader about the whole plot in this christmas story. The 3 mayors of Duckburg complains that the road “Quack Street” ( the name of the street is mentioned later in the story ) is very damaged and need to be repaired. But who could afford to get this task done ? Only Scrooge McDuck off course..! But as one of the mayors says ; “We may as well go home, gentlemen ! Old Scrooge never gives “nothin” to nobody`as he puts it !”
And then the 3 mayors and readers now see`s Uncle Scrooge`s impressive Money Bin in the very same 4`th panel, which apparently also seems to be the oldest example of survived published original artwork of the famous Money Bin.
We speaks 1962, Ladies and Gentlemen..
On the 3`rd panel is another of Barks funny details. Try and take a closer look at the brickwall behind the 3 mayors..!
Yes - on the low brickwall Barks drew a poster saying ; “Give Comics”.
A little maybe unnoticeable advertising statement for buying comics..?
Some historical facts : In the 1960`ies Western Publishing was threatened on selling comics because of the popularity of the new media called ; Television – and especially Cartoon`s in TV really was a competitor to the ordinary fysical comics. That should over the next few years seems to be the final countdown for Western Publishing. Barks retired some years after he drew this story – but he certainly did make an effort for the survival of comics in general with his poster statement.
Well – most probably Barks had no hidden intentions with this little statement. More likely it was because of the season – and the purpose for giving christmas presents only.
Carl Barks has not signed this page, as he obviously never knew it had survived in the first place. It was given away by the publisher, Western for an early Comic-con as a donation, which one lucky visitor could achieve winning.
But it never happened. John decided to keep it and soon after he gave the upper half page to his good friend, Mike.
As Mike said, the upper half page has lived a rather tumbled life ; Travelling more than 5.000 miles in the US and survived a house fire in 1971. But it exists – and that`s the important thing as only 3 % of Barks original comic book pages has survived to this day.
And now – half a century later the whole page has again been assembled. What a joy(ous season ) it is..!
You can see the lower half page by following this link : https://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=1499434