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[jmv]

I just posted my first upload, a comic book I've been seeking for quite some time.

Here's my upload:

https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=68131 (est 1955)

And last fall, Dan Cromwell added an earlier printing of the same comic here:

https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=65472 (est 1953)

I was able to scan it at high resolution, though I kept a bit more of an edge border than necessary...next time.

The comic was published by the Canadian Fishing Company Limited (CanFisCo) in Vancouver, BC, and the characters in the book were developed by the Walt Disney Company, though this fact is not made clear in the comic book itself. This giveaway comic is one of two that were produced, (the other was called Pacific Rescue) and they both promoted the Gold Seal line of canned salmon and tuna in Canada. The comic is dated ca 1953-1955 online, but no date actually appears in the book. The earlier edition of this comic book already online here does have 4 more pages of promotional material, but the scans are inferior.

The site goldseal.ca previously had a section on the history of the comic, but this is now only view-able at archive.org. It stated, "From 1943 through 1945 Canadian Fishing Company contracted with the Walt Disney Company to develop a series of cartoon characters to be used in advertisements. Characters such as 'Sammy' Gold Seal (aka 'Sammy' Salmon), 'Wally' Walrus, 'Percy' Panda, 'Pete' Pelican and 'Sneak' Seagull were created by the Walt Disney Company."

They describe "Pacific Rescue" as follows:

"The comic is based on an actual 1950 rescue of U.S. Airmen by a Canfisco fishing vessel."

And the Silver Treasure Hunt:

"In this issue, a thrilling story of adventure and intrigue. Illustrated story on salmon fishing and canning."

The point I'd like to emphasize...if ANYONE ever finds "Pacific Rescue", please scan and post it! I'd really like to see the full story, it's an interesting Cold War West Coast piece of history!

If you'd like to chime in, what's YOUR favourite promotional comic?

[jmv]

Well, I haven't found a copy yet, but after sending out a few more inquiries, I managed to come across this low resolution scan of the elusive promo. Here it is! https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=68256

[Robb_K]

"The Silver Treasure Hunt" was Book 1.  "Pacific Rescue" was Book 2.  I believe that "The Sea Pirates" was Book 3.  I had seen it back in the early 1950s, as a child.  I seem to remember seeing 2 more, but can't remember their titles.  Below is a scan of the cover of the Sea Pirates, which I believe is Book 3, perhaps issued in early 1954.  The other 2 issues may have been issued in late 1954, and early 1955, given that it was called a quarterly magazine.  I've been looking for it for a long time, but have only found this cover scan on a website called "Canada's Own Comics".

[crashryan]

I imagine they paid Disney a lot of money to design these characters. It all came to naught when the fish company gave the comic job to an artist who drew so poorly. I'm sure he did the best he could, but both art and lettering are strictly amateur hour.

[Robb_K]

I imagine they paid Disney a lot of money to design these characters. It all came to naught when the fish company gave the comic job to an artist who drew so poorly. I'm sure he did the best he could, but both art and lettering are strictly amateur hour.

I've seen a LOT worse.  Imagine if they had given that job to Lee Sherman!