Uncle Scrooge #67 and The Doom Diamond

[Gerd Syllwasschy]

Recently I was sent a scan of Carl Barks' pencil sketch for the cover of
Uncle Scrooge #70, "The Doom Diamond". There is a note scribbled into one
corner in what is obviously Barks' own handwriting, saying, "Doom Diamond
#67".

This seems to indicate that the story was originally scheduled for US 67 -
which would quite make sense, since Barks (according to Michael Barrier's
bibliography) submitted "The Doom Diamond" on 19 March 1966, while US 66
"The Heedless Horseman" was submitted on 15 February 1966 and US 68 "Hall of
the Mermaid Queen" on 13 April 1966. (Actually, US 69 "The Cattle King" was
the last story with finished art Barks ever did for the Uncle Scrooge
books.)

However, US 67 only contained a reprint of US 10 "The Fabulous Philosopher's
Stone" (and a new Gyro four-pager by Phil De Lara). Can anyone imagine why
the publication of "The Doom Diamond" was postponed to US 70?

Gerd