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I believe the press run for Gladstone II's prestige format UNCLE SCROOGE was about 8,000-10,000 copies per issue??much like the issues of today. The key point is that as with the present Gemstone titles, they were sold as trade paperbacks, not as newsstand periodicals (which would have a larger press run).
But whether this really makes the issues genuinely rare is anybody's guess. Frankly, I'd never seen them selling for such inflated prices until I did an eBay search myself.
As far as I can tell, issues 310 and 311 appear to be less common than the rest. But that doesn't mean I'd pay upwards of $40 for a copy.

Thanks, guys, for the info.
I had (wrongly) assumed that like many other 90s comics, there were terribly overprinted.
I wonder, if Gemstone were to reprint those stories, then perhaps the prices would go down. (Not that I'm really looking to complete a run of Uncle Scrooge, mind you.)
This makes me think of that other rare Uncle Scrooge I've heard about, 179. This book is just a reprint, right? But the prices are staggering!

I have issues 310 and 311. I remember them being incredibly hard to find along with 309 - all three of which I got far after their original release date at cover price (I consider myself lucky because of this).

There are multiple reasons for the prices on those issues being incredibly wonky:

A) 309, 310, and 311 are the first three issues of Uncle Scrooge made during the inception of Scrooge becoming a prestige book. Issue #308 does not warn the reader in any way, shape, or form that the change to the book was going to happen. It's just "Be here next issue for Barks and Vicar" and for the next two months - no book ever came out (The date on 308 is Feburary, the date on 309 May)

B) I don't remember exactly but I'm thinking that around the release of 308 was near when a few of the Gladstone II books had been cancelled. I remember very distinctly a few people at my store under the impression that Scrooge had fallen the same fate because Uncle Scrooge Adventures had unceremoniously dissapeared and an odd side book for the release of "A Little Something Special" and "24 Karat Moon" had come out.

C) All three issues contain Don Rosa stories. History has proven that Scrooge issues with his work never stay on the shelf long. Figure it out.

D) I can't speak for the low print run rumor, but I do know the three books were hard to find even when they came out because I think most stores (at least the ones I visited) didn't order it.

Also - yes Uncle Scrooge 179 is incredibly rare. It's just a reprint book but I remember hearing somewhere that the stupid thing only came out in Canada for some reason which boggles my mind. Don't know if that part is true but I've only ever seen one copy of it to this day.

I believe that US 179 only came out on newsstands in Canada, and was only issued in sealed packs in toy stores in USA (as were most of the last Whitmans). Apparently, a lot of the packs for No. 179 got destroyed (or never got to customers).

Quote from user: ole damgaardQuote from user: MorequackI don't believe that rumor regarding #179 is true. According to the INDUCKS it was published in the USA on Sept. of 1980.
http://coa.inducks.org/issue.php?c=us%2fUS++179
That only tells us that it was *published*, not that it was actually distributed in the USA.
I stand corrected.

Regarding the Gladstone and Gemstone rarities, #310 and #319, I wonder why the publishers haven't reprinted them. I mean, Gladstone for many years has sold back issues that I assume they reprint to keep up with the volume of demand over the years. And why would Gemstone not reprint #319? It can't be that expensive if they already have the digital files ready. They must realize that there would be many buyers jumping all over that issue. And what about Gladstone and #310??I'm not sure what printing method they use(d) but has something happened to the original art or the negatives or printing plates?

Quote from user: Robb_KI don't think Gladstone reprinted any books. I think they just printed up 10,000 in their original print runs, and only sold 5,000-7,000 (mostly about 5,000-6,000) at the time of original release, and the other 3,000-4,000 left over were more than adequate to fill the demand for back issue sales over the years...
Maybe, but do you know this for a fact or are you surmising?

Quote from user: Strontium DuckI've been tracking down some of the non-reprinted Don Rosa stories and now I have to ask: are the late Gladstone Uncle Scrooge books really that rare? Everything from 309 up seems iffy and prices are all over the place, especially for 310. (Some fellow bought one off eBay for $179!)
Wow.

Silly question: have you checked on the site of The Bruce Hamilton Company?
http://www.brucehamilton.com/GLADSTONE/AAA%20Steve%20Files/Series2Comics/US/UStext.htm
No 310, but most of the prestige issues of U$ are at $8.