Limited Collectors' Edition is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1972 to 1978. It usually featured reprints of previously published stories but a few issues contained new material. The series was published in an oversized 10″ x 14″ tabloid (or "treasury") format.
Publication history Limited Collectors' Edition was launched with a collection of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer stories which went on sale October 24, 1972. DC Comics vice president Sol Harrison had suggested the format stating that "we could create a tabloid size comic that would stand out on the newsstand". Limited Collectors' Edition shared its numbering with two other treasury format series, Famous First EditionWells in Back Issue! p. 2: "Running parallel to Limited Collectors' Edition was another trailblazing tabloid...Famous First Edition provided exact replicas of key Golden Age DC issues". and All-New Collectors' Edition.Wells in Back Issue! p. 6: "The series was renamed All-New Collectors' Edition with issue #C-53's Rudolph volume and shifted toward newly commissioned adventures". The final issues of the latter two series were tie-ins to the release of Superman: The Movie. DC later published treasuries as part of DC Special Series in 1981 and as a number of one-shots from 1999 to 2003 primarily produced by Paul Dini and Alex Ross.
In 2020, DC put out a new Famous First Edition, C-63, which reprinted in hardcover the first issue of New Fun Comics, which launched the company that became DC.
In 2025, DC released a new treasury edition as part of their “Summer of Superman” publishing initiative.
The issues Issue Date Title NotesC-20Christmas 1972"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Reprints stories from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #2, 4-7.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-20 at the Grand Comics Database C-21Summer 1973"Shazam!" Reprints stories from Captain Marvel Adventures #19, 68, 115, 121; Captain Marvel, Jr. #11; and Marvel Family #85.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-21 at the Grand Comics Database C-22Fall 1973"Tarzan" Reprints stories from Tarzan #207-210.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-22 at the Grand Comics Database C-23Winter 1973"House of Mystery" Reprints stories from House of Mystery #175, 179-180, 182, 186, and 202.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-23 at the Grand Comics Database C-241973"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Reprints stories from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #3, 5, and 8 and Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Annual #13.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-24 at the Grand Comics Database C-251974"Batman" Reprints stories from Batman #4, 14, 24, and 221 and Detective Comics #355 and 404.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-25 at the Grand Comics Database C-271974"Shazam!" Reprints stories from Captain Marvel Adventures #25, 53, 121, 127; Captain Marvel, Jr. #54; and Marvel Family #2, 20-21, and 82.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-27 at the Grand Comics Database C-291974"Tarzan" Reprints stories from Tarzan #219-223.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-29 at the Grand Comics Database C-31October–November 1974"Superman" Reprints stories from Action Comics #22, 29; Superman #60, 142, 204 and The Amazing World of Superman, Metropolis Edition. Cover art by H. J. WardLimited Collectors' Edition #C-31 at the Grand Comics Database reproduced from a photograph of the original painting.C-32December 1974-January 1975"Ghosts" Reprints stories from Ghosts #1, 3-6. New material by writer Leo Dorfman and artists Gerry Talaoc, E. R. Cruz, and Frank Redondo.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-32 at the Grand Comics Database C-33February–March 1975"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Reprints story from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #9. New story by writer/penciler Sheldon Mayer and inker Tenny Henson.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-33 at the Grand Comics Database C-34February–March 1975"Christmas with the Super-Heroes" Reprints stories from Batman #239; Captain Marvel Adventures #69; Teen Titans #13; and Action Comics #117. Previously unpublished "Angel and the Ape" story by writer John Albano and artists Bob Oksner and Wally Wood.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-34 at the Grand Comics Database C-35April–May 1975"Shazam!" Reprints stories from Captain Marvel Adventures #100, 129, 148 and Marvel Family #17. Photo cover features Jackson Bostwick from the Shazam! television series.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-35 at the Grand Comics Database C-36June–July 1975"The Bible" New material adapting stories from the Book of Genesis by writer Sheldon Mayer and artist Nestor Redondo.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-36 at the Grand Comics Database C-37August–September 1975"Batman" Reprints stories from Batman #8, 43, 45; World's Finest Comics #3; and the Batman comic strip.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-37 at the Grand Comics Database C-38October–November 1975"Superman" Reprints stories from Superman #40, 48, 157 and Action Comics #315-316.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-38 at the Grand Comics Database C-39October–November 1975"Secret Origins of Super-Villains" Reprints stories from Detective Comics #168; Adventure Comics #271; Showcase #8; Whiz Comics #15; and Superman #249.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-39 at the Grand Comics Database C-40December 1975-January 1976"Dick Tracy" Reprints the Dick Tracy comic strip from December 21, 1943 to May 17, 1944.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-40 at the Grand Comics Database C-41December 1975-January 1976"Super Friends" Reprints stories from Justice League of America #36 and 61. New framing sequence by writer E. Nelson Bridwell and artist Alex Toth.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-41 at the Grand Comics Database C-42February–March 1976"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" New Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer stories by writer/penciler Sheldon Mayer and inker Tenny Henson.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-42 at the Grand Comics Database C-43February–March 1976"Christmas with the Super-Heroes" Reprints stories from Superman's Christmas Adventure #1; Batman #219; House of Mystery #191; Sensation Comics #14; and Adventure Comics #82.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-43 at the Grand Comics Database C-44June–July 1976"Batman" Reprints stories from Detective Comics #329 and 397 and Batman #31 and 83. Cover art by Wally Fax.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-44 at the Grand Comics Database C-45June–July 1976"More Secret Origins Super-Villains" Reprints stories from Batman #62; The Flash #105; Superboy #78; and Wonder Woman #6.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-45 at the Grand Comics Database C-46August–September 1976"Justice League of America" Reprints stories from Justice League of America #24 and 34.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-46 at the Grand Comics Database C-47August–September 1976"Superman Salutes the Bicentennial" Reprints Tomahawk stories from Star Spangled Comics #121, 126-127; More Fun Comics #70; and Tomahawk #45. These include the titles: "Adventure in New York"/"The Magic Tomahawk"/"The First Sub"/"Frontier Theatre"/"The Battle of the Master Woodsmen".Limited Collectors' Edition #C-47 at the Grand Comics Database C-481976"Superman vs. the Flash" Reprints stories from Superman #199 and The Flash #175. Six-page new feature on Superman's Fortress of Solitude by Neal Adams.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-48 at the Grand Comics Database C-49October–November 1976"Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes" Reprints stories from Adventure Comics #369-370.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-49 at the Grand Comics Database C-50Christmas 1976"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" New Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer stories by writer/penciler Sheldon Mayer and inker Tenny Henson.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-50 at the Grand Comics Database C-51August 1977"Batman" Reprints stories from Batman #232 and 242-244.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-51 at the Grand Comics Database C-521977"The Best of DC" Reprints stories from Batman #237; House of Mystery #201; The Flash #148; Our Army at War #241; Tomahawk #136; and Superman #156.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-52 at the Grand Comics Database C-571978"Welcome Back, Kotter" Reprints stories from Welcome Back, Kotter #1, 3, and 4. New story by writer Mark Evanier and artists Ric Estrada and Bob Oksner.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-57 at the Grand Comics Database C-591978"Batman's Strangest Cases" Reprints stories from The Brave and the Bold #93; Swamp Thing #7; Batman #227 and 250; and Detective Comics #410.Limited Collectors' Edition #C-59 at the Grand Comics Database
Several planned features for Limited Collectors' Edition were never published. These include several projects by writer/artist Sheldon Mayer. Mayer had been working on an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz but DC's then-publisher Carmine Infantino canceled the project upon learning of a similar adaptation by Marvel Comics. The two companies published the project jointly and the adaptation was crafted by Marvel's Roy Thomas and John Buscema instead. Mayer also worked on a follow-up to "The Bible" issue of Limited Collectors' Edition titled "The Story of Jesus" as well as "Rudolph's Easter Parade", an Easter-themed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer issue. Neither project was published. "The Legend of King Arthur" by writer Gerry Conway and artist Nestor Redondo was a four-issue storyline which was advertised as "Coming Soon" in DC comic books dated September 1975, but the series was never published. A second volume of "The Best of DC" would have included stories reprinted from The Brave and the Bold #42; All-Star Western #11; Superman #247; and Green Lantern #75 but was canceled as part of the DC Implosion.Wells in Back Issue! p. 5
Famous First Edition Issue Date Title NotesC–261974"Action Comics #1" Exact reprint of Action Comics #1 (June 1938).Famous First Edition #C–26 at the Grand Comics Database C–281974"Detective Comics #27" Exact reprint of Detective Comics #27 (May 1939).Famous First Edition #C–28 at the Grand Comics Database C–301974"Sensation Comics #1" Exact reprint of Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942).Famous First Edition #C–30 at the Grand Comics Database F–4October–November 1974"Whiz Comics #2" Exact reprint of Whiz Comics #2 (February 1940).Famous First Edition #F–4 at the Grand Comics Database F–5February–March 1975"Batman #1" Exact reprint of Batman #1 (Spring 1940).Famous First Edition #F–5 at the Grand Comics Database F–6April–May 1975"Wonder Woman #1" Exact reprint of Wonder Woman #1 (Summer 1942).Famous First Edition #F–6 at the Grand Comics Database F–7June–July 1975"All Star Comics #3" Exact reprint of All Star Comics #3 (Winter 1940–1941)Famous First Edition #F–7 at the Grand Comics Database F–8August–September 1975"Flash Comics #1" Exact reprint of Flash Comics #1 (January 1940.Famous First Edition #F–8 at the Grand Comics Database C–61March 1979"Superman #1" Exact reprint of Superman #1 (Summer 1939).Famous First Edition #C–61 at the Grand Comics Database C–632020"New Fun #1" Exact reprint of New Fun #1 (February 1935).
Famous First Edition was a series of oversized reprints of original Golden Age comics. All but two (#F–7, All-Star Comics #3 and #F–8, Flash Comics #1) included full-size glossy cover-stock reprints of the front and back covers in addition to the usual cardstock outer covers. Famous First Edition reprinted the comics in their entirety, including any paid advertising and other features that appeared in the original. Several issues of Famous First Edition were also published in hardcover editions by Lyle Stuart, Inc.Wells in Back Issue! p. 2: "Partnering with Lyle Stuart, Inc., DC released $5 hardcovers of its first six replicas". The Grand Comics Database only lists hardcover versions for issues #C–26 (Action Comics #1), #C–28 (Detective Comics #27), #C–30 (Sensation Comics #1), #F–4 (Whiz Comics #2), and #F–6 (Wonder Woman #1) while the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide includes a listing for a hardcover version of #F–5 (Batman #1) with a notation of "exists?" The reprint of New Fun #1 published in 2020 was released in a hardcover edition only.
All-New Collectors' Edition