MUSEUM QUALITY | 1978 Original Garfield Youth Canvas Jacket - United Feature Syndicate Inc.
Up for sale is a staggering piece of comic strip history. This isn't your standard vintage windbreaker; this is a heavy-duty, brushed cotton canvas youth jacket dated 1978—the very year Jim Davis’s Garfield was first syndicated by United Feature Syndicate, Inc. Produced by US ME Corporation, the craftsmanship on this garment far exceeds typical vintage merchandise of the era.
The Graphics: Features the iconic "Garfield in Chief Headdress" motif. The back boasts a massive, intact full rubber patch with vibrant colors and zero cracking. A smaller patch is featured on the front chest.
Custom Hardware: Every single snap button is custom-embossed with Garfield’s face. Includes an incredibly rare original metal hanging tag attached to the exterior with Garfield imagery and spell-out text.
Premium Construction: Made from high-quality, heavy-weight brushed cotton canvas with a thick, quilted-style lining. This jacket was built to last, which explains its miraculous survival.
Authenticity: Fully labeled with "1978 United Feature Syndicate Inc." on the collar tag, the chest patch, and the back graphic.
This item is in Very Fine vintage condition. It is a true survivor and appears to have been stored with great care for over four decades.
Structure: No pilling, no rips, and no tears. The structural integrity is 100% sound.
Graphics: The rubber patches are in "deadstock" quality—supple, bright, and perfectly adhered.
Surface: There are minor, superficial scuffs consistent with age. In the interest of preserving this "relic" in its original state, we have not attempted to clean or launder it. We leave any professional cleaning to the buyer's discretion to maintain its historical value.
Due to the specific 1978 dating, the unique rubber patch medium, and the custom-embossed hardware, this may be one of the only remaining examples in existence. It is a cornerstone piece for any serious animation or 70s pop-culture collection.
Year: 1978
Brand: US ME Corporation
Material: Brushed Cotton Canvas (Lined)
Size: Youth - 4 (Please see measurements below)
Origin: United Feature Syndicate, Inc. Official Licensed Merchandise USA.
The Genesis of a Global Icon June 19, 1978, marked the nationwide syndication of Jim Davis’s Garfield. This jacket, explicitly dated 1978 by United Feature Syndicate, Inc. and produced by US ME Corporation, represents the "Genesis Era" of Garfield's commercial history. Unlike the mass-produced synthetic apparel of the 1980s, this garment hails from the very first wave of licensed merchandise ever created for the character.
Engineering & Rarity: The "US ME Corp" Distinction Research suggests that 1970s items by US ME Corporation were produced with a level of industrial quality rarely seen in standard retail character apparel. The use of heavyweight brushed cotton canvas, custom die-cast embossed snaps, and a massive vulcanized rubber back-patch indicates a high-cost production run—likely intended for boutique distribution or as a limited promotional "Executive Edition" during the strip's initial launch.
The State of Preservation The "Perfect Storm" for this item lies in its condition.
The Rubber Patch: It is highly rare for a 45-year-old vulcanized rubber graphic of this size to remain supple and crack-free. This suggests a climate-controlled storage history.
The Hardware: The presence of the original metal Garfield hang-tag is a definitive rarity. These components were almost universally lost or removed by the original owners, making this a "complete" specimen.
Investment Potential In the world of high-end pop culture curation, "First Year" items are the gold standard. As Garfield undergoes a modern renaissance in film and digital media, original 1978 artifacts have transitioned from "used clothing" to blue-chip collectibles. This is not merely a garment; it is a museum-grade relic of American comic strip history.
For interested buyers outside Canada and the United States please contact us for a shipping quote as we will ship to most places worldwide.
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Insurance: The Seller will purchase shipping insurance where necessary
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