145 - MORRIS. — Lucky Luke. Dick Digger’s Gold Mine.

MORRIS. — Lucky Luke. Dick Digger’s Gold Mine. Marcinelle-Charleroi, Éditions Dupuis, 1969. In-4, softcover with publisher’s illustrations, square spine, 46 color plates. Lucky Luke Collection, No. 1. A 1969 reprint of the first Lucky Luke album, originally published in 1949 by Éditions Dupuis. Text and illustrations by Morris. This seminal album brings together two of the famous cowboy’s earliest adventures: Dick Digger’s Gold Mine and Lucky Luke’s Double. In the first, Lucky Luke comes to the aid of an old prospector whose map indicating the location of a gold mine has been stolen. The second adventure features a look-alike of the hero, who causes all sorts of mishaps. These stories date from the early days of the series created by Morris, before his collaboration with René Goscinny. They offer a glimpse into the early visual and narrative characteristics of Lucky Luke, whose appearance and personality would gradually evolve into those of the universally recognized lone cowboy. The cover depicts Lucky Luke riding Jolly Jumper, revolver raised, galloping through a Western landscape dominated by cacti and the buildings of a small American town. This iconic, brightly colored composition is based on the historic illustration from the first album. Condition: A good copy showing some signs of wear and slight scuffing on the edges and corners. The cover is well-preserved, with colors still vibrant. The interior is slightly yellowed, with no major apparent flaws.