Indicia publisher is Dell Publishing Company, Inc.
The comic was published on September 8, 1942.
As per page 615:
Catalog of Copyright Entries 1942 Pamphlets, Leaflets, Etc. New Series Vol 39 Pt. 1
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Which states:
Animal comics, no. 1. © Sept. 8, 1942; AA 409454; Oskar Lebeck, Croton-on-Hudson, N. Y. 27533
The "©" is followed by the publication date.
"©" implies copyright registration of a published work followed by date of publication
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The publication date would be the date the publication was printed, cut, assembled, stapled, packaged, and shipped from the printing plant to retailers.