In 1968 Carl Barks dreamed up a very exceptional story for the duck universe. It is remarkable for several reasons: First of all it was conceived and written after he had retired from comic book work (and it was not even published - by his own choice - until 13 years later). Also, it is an atypical story meant for adult readers (it incorporates 'forbidden' subjects such as mortality and death in the Disney universe). And finally, the graphic part consisted - when it was finally published - exclusively of 12 large watercolour illustrations with no speech balloons!
The story synopsis is that Scrooge will not accept that he is mortal so he sets out with Donald and the nephews to find a rejuvenator. They manage to find a place where people live to be very old but what is their secret?
This highly unusual piece of work premiered in the elaborate book Uncle Scrooge McDuck His Life and Times in 1981 and is titled Go Slowly Sands of Time! (in 1987 the story was adapted for the comic books as a 10-pager in U$216 drawn by the Spanish artist Vicar).

Below you are introduced to the original sketches and page layouts which Barks made back in 1980. This work formed the graphic base for the story as it was initially presented to the publisher. If you wish to dig deeper you will find a few of Barks' own commentaries as well as 4 of his 12 watercolours HERE.