TASCHEN, Walt Disney Studios, David Gerstein, J. B. Kaufman

A Collector's Edition of Walt Disney's Donald Duck: The Ultimate History.

• David Gerstein (Israeli).
• J. B. Kaufman (American).
• Edited by Daniel Kothenschulte.
• Cologne: TASCHEN, 2024.
• 564 pages.
• With facsimiles of 128 storyboard sketches for the Donald Duck short film Sea Scouts and a portfolio of eight pieces of concept art from Donald’s South American Features.
• Part of an edition of 1000.
• Hardcover, in clamshell box.

Since 1934, Donald Duck, one of the most published comic book subjects, has been seen in more films than any other Disney character. This volume includes rare animation drawings, vintage comics, behind-the-scenes photographs, charming memorabilia, unfinished film projects, and unpublished artworks by “the Duck Man,” master storyteller Carl Barks.

Nothing succeeds like success, as the saying goes, but in the case of Donald Duck the opposite is true: the candor with which Donald reveals his weaknesses wins our hearts and stays with us forever.

Revisit Donald’s life’s work from nine decades in one of the most expansive illustrated publications on the Disney universe. Following Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History by TASCHEN, we witness the career of Mickey’s only rival for the throne as Disney’s most popular creation. From his debut in the Silly Symphony short film The Wise Little Hen on June 9, 1934, the authors trace Donald’s more than 170 cartoons, groundbreaking adventures in comics and TV, and theme park appearances. As a special treat to his fans, they also dive deep into the vaults to tell the story of his unfinished film projects.

With unprecedented access to Disney’s vast historical archives and collections as well as public and private collections, the authors illuminate Donald’s life story with rare concept art, story sketches, background paintings, animation, and comic drawings as well as historical photographs. We encounter the work of all major Donald artists in both film and comics who defined his character, including a vast tribute to the “Duck Man” himself, master storyteller Carl Barks, alongside unseen early storyboard drawings.

In the history of comics, Donald Duck is the most frequently printed character outside the superhero genre, and has appeared on screen more often than any other Disney star. Since the 1950s, Duckburg has expanded into a truly global village, with American artists being joined by a new generation of international colleagues.

As Carl Barks once said of Donald: “He is everything, he is everybody; he makes the same mistakes that we all make.” He may often be unlucky, but this is precisely why everybody can relate to the world’s most famous and best loved Duck, fittingly celebrated with this monumental tribute.

The Collector’s Edition brings several extras, that will delight every Donald fan: Eight pieces of concept art, exclusively printed on premium paper and stored in a lavishly produced portfolio, pay tribute to Donald's classic South American Features. Also included is a facsimile reproduction of the unabridged, final storyboard for the Donald Duck short film Sea Scouts that contains 132 pages of first drafts for most of the scenes of the film. The Collector’s Edition is limited to 1,000 copies and comes in a specially manufactured clamshell box that houses the book, the prints and the storyboard binder.