Bone #No. 1
Cartoon Books • Bone
Writer
Jeff Smith
Interior Artist
Jeff Smith
Cover Artist
Jeff Smith
Publication Date
July 1991 (Print identification required for exact month)
Cover Variant
Regular
Printing
Later Printing (Identification based on $2.95 cover price and lack of certain 1st print characteristics. Likely 3rd or later printing.)
Comic Description
First appearance of Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone. They are cast out of Boneville and find themselves in a mysterious valley inhabited by strange creatures and a young girl named Thorn.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine/Near Mint (CGC 9.0)
Condition Details
Minor spine stress visible on left edge. Slight blunting to the upper left corner. Surface gloss appears high with no major color-breaking creases visible in the photo. Bottom left corner shows very minor wear.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $30 - $60 / Graded: $100 - $150 (depends on exact printing)
Recent Sales
Later printings of Bone #1 generally sell between $25 and $75 depending on condition. 4th printings are common; 1st printings (without 'Cartoon Books' logo and lower price) sell for several thousand.
Grading Recommendation
Not highly recommended for universal grading unless it is a 1st or rare 2nd printing. The grading fees may exceed the value added for a later printing in this condition.
Notable Features
Later printing identified by the $2.95 price point (original was $2.00) and the Cartoon Books (CB) logo in the top left circle. Key first appearance of major characters.
Authentication Notes
Print quality appears consistent with official Cartoon Books later printings. Red ink numbering and price alignment are correct for trade editions. No signs of reproduction or counterfeiting are evident.