Choosing between these two Golden Age Disney Dell comics means weighing a very early coverless issue against a complete 1953 movie adaptation, with a wide gap between their listed prices. Do you chase the earlier issue number and accept the condition trade-offs, or pick up the more affordable Four Color for your shelf? Here's how the two stack up for collectors shopping for comics collectibles.
Quick Verdict
If you want a complete single issue with a painted photo cover and a more approachable listed price, the Four Color #505 Walt Disney's The Sword and the Rose is the straightforward buy. If your collection is driven by early Disney publishing history and you are willing to accept an incomplete, coverless 1941 book, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #12 offers the earlier issue.
| Four Color #505 (1953) | Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #12 (1941) | |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 9.99 | USD 47.00 |
| Price bar | ||
| Condition | Very Good | Coverless 0.3 |
| Era | Golden Age (1938-55) | Golden Age (1938-55) |
| Key feature | Complete 52-page movie adaptation | Early Dell issue with Al Taliaferro cover art |
Where Each Product Wins
Four Color #505 wins for completeness, reading value, and the lower listed price. It is a full 52-page issue with a painted photo cover and a clear movie-tie-in story. Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #12 wins for issue-number age and cover-art connection. It is a 1941 number from the early run of the long-running series, even though the copy is incomplete and missing the first wrap and centerfold.
Four Color #505: Walt Disney's Sword and the Rose (1953)
Fans of Disney's historical adventure film will appreciate this Four Color #505, which adapts The Sword and the Rose and includes a painted photo cover showing Charles Brandon as Richard Todd. The copy is a complete 52-page issue with noticeable wear: spine stress, a small spine split at the lower staple area, minor cover creasing, and edge wear. Those flaws are typical for a Golden Age comic at this price, and the $9.99 listed price makes it the easier pick for someone who wants a readable Disney movie adaptation without a major budget outlay. For collectors focused on Four Color and Golden Age Disney issues, this is a practical, complete option that still delivers the historic movie-tie-in angle.
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #12 (Coverless, 1941)
Collectors who prioritize early Disney publishing history will likely be drawn to this 1941 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #12, listed at $47.00. The cover was drawn by Al Taliaferro, and the issue sits in the Golden Age range of the long-running series. The trade-off is substantial: the comic is incomplete, with the first wrap and centerfold missing, including material that affects the "Adventures with Robin Hood" story. This is a coverless 0.3 copy, so it is for filling a run or studying early Disney story work, not for reading from cover to cover. If you are assembling a complete run of early Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, this is a candidate despite the missing material; if you want a clean reading copy, the Four Color issue is the better match.
Final Choice by Use Case
Choose Four Color #505 if you want a complete 1953 movie-adaptation issue with a painted photo cover, acceptable Golden Age wear, and a more affordable listed price. Choose Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #12 only if the 1941 issue number and early Dell publishing history matter more to you than a complete reading copy, and you accept the coverless, incomplete condition at the higher listed price.
