CARL BARKS : Walt Disney Comics & Stories # 268. Page 7 - ”CHRISTMAS CHEERS” 1962.

I hereby present page 7 from the story ”Christmas Cheers” by legendary Carl Barks.
A page that until now, has been unknown as surviving original art and therefore was never mentioned in Matti Eronen`s book from 1994.
Carl Barks drew the story and art in June 1962 and his original title for the story was ”Christmas Mix-ups” - published in January 1963 in WDC # 268.
As there until now hasn`t been found any earlier original published comic book art with Uncle Scrooge, than the few examples from the WDC # 268 story, pages from this story, still to this day stands as the very eldest surviving examples with the old miser.
About provenance : The first owner told me as follows : ”I got the page from Bill Harris, editor of East Coast Gold Key offices in New York back in 1963”.
..For 56 years it was kept safe and secure in an art drawer waiting to be framed someday..
But as the owner said to me : ..>”I`m suspecting that I´ll never get around framing it, so it might be available for you to buy..! - Art is supposed to be hanging on a wall - not just placed in a drawer"..<
Getting this unique opportunity, I simply had to add this historical page to my collection of Carl Barks original artwork.

When I saw the page for the first time, I was instantly blown away..
Besides the superiour artwork by Barks the qualities on this page is the great discovery of the enormous golden nugget on panel 3+4, where Scrooge and the nephews are digging it out from the soil.
Is this the biggest ”golden nugget” that Scrooge has ever found in his golddigger career..? It just might be..!
Especially I am very fund of the many nice panels showing all 3 nephews in some extra ordinary good positurs.
Seeing Scrooge as the classic golddigger, digging out golden nuggets with his showel from the soil is of course another nice panel.
Here we capture Scrooge in a glimpse from the past ; As the old time golddigger from Klondike.
And on the lower half page some big troubles suddenly appears for Scrooge..
How will he EVER be able to transport these enormous golden nuggets safely home to the Money Bin..?
Well - the kids of course, has the answer to that question – and so the 3`rd Christmas present – now for Donald is suddenly on it`s way.

Some more facts about the page :
The kids get`s their most wanted ”Science Set” on panel 1 – Scrooge get`s his ”golden nuggets” on panel 2, 3 + 4 and finally, Donald`s christmas present in the form of a wanted ”truck” is
revealed on panel 7.
Later in the story the city of Duckburg will also get it´s own Christmas present in the form of a repaired ”Quack Street” in gold..!

My favorite panels from this page is the long panel 3 + 4 and panel 5, 7 and 8.
Especially panel 5 and 8 with the worried, troubled and nearly racked Scrooge McDuck is pretty awesome.