Inscribed First Bone Graphic Novel, with Signed Bookplate

The Complete Bone Adventures, Vol. 1, Issues 1–6 [Out from Boneville] [Signed Bookplate]

Smith, Jeff

Notes: The first edition of the first graphic novel volume in the Bone series, collecting the first six installments (of 55) originally published between 1991 and 1993. Bone features three Schmoo-like brothers and alternates between comedy and drama in the storytelling. When I was running a general new-and-used bookshop, we steadily sold the complete Bone, a War and Peace length book of 1344 pages, to kids who couldn't get enough.

Like many graphic novels, the bibliography can be confusing. As the series grew in popularity, it was reissued and re-edited, colorized, and combined in various ways. Only three volumes were issued as the "Complete Bone Adventures"—later collected versions had different title.

This paperback is the first graphic novel version, published soon after the first six comic installments were completed. It has a one-page introduction by Will Eisner that was dropped in later versions. The books was retitled, Out from Boneville, in 1995 and has carried that name since.

"The sales of the first Bone graphic novel, Out of Boneville, [50,000 copies in the first 18 months] produced by a tiny company, was a powerful demonstration of the emerging graphic novel format. Bone became one of the most celebrated comic book series, winning forty-one awards for a storyline running fifty-five issues long."—The Cambridge Companion to the Graphic Novel, p. 47.

This is one of a small number of copies issued with a bookplate signed by Smith.

Edition + Condition: First edition (first printing). A fine copy in wrappers (paperback). Inscribed by Smith with a drawing, "Happy Birthday Jim! [Drawing] Best Wishes! Jeff Smith '93" Smith signature is legible for once. Signed bookplate laid in, as issued by the publisher. Very scarce signed, especially with the bookplate.

Publication: Columbus, OH: Cartoon Books, 1993.

Item No: #361870

Price: $300