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Latest Phil-Comics includes rare first issue British comics complete with free gifts

By John Freeman on January 23, 2020

eBay comics auction house Phil-Comics has around 260 vintage comic listings running this week, with bidding ending this Sunday 26th and Mon 27th January from 6.30pm onwards.

Several first issues include 2000AD, Champion, Cor!!, Buster, Doctor Who Weekly, Swift, Valiant and Zip – and some have their original free gifts.

A 1958 issue of girls title Romeo includes some rare Elvis Presley transfers, which we’re guessing might just sell for more than the £4.20 they currently stand at, at time of writing.

Action Issue 1, cover dated 14th February 1976 – with free gift

Cor!! Number One, cover dated 6th June 1970, with Gulp Drink Powder free gift

Also on offer is every issue of Action (pre- and post-ban) plus the four free gifts issued with the pre-bans have come from the same original source, with most in really nice shape and some of the best auctioneer Phil Shrimpton says he’s ever seen.

Action Issue 2, cover dated 21st February 1976, with Hookjaw transfer gift

Action Issue 16, cover dated 29th May 1976, with free Invasion Game gift

Romeo issue 54, cover dated 6th September 1958, with free Elvis Presley transfers

The Hotspur, cover dated 26th February 1955, with boomerang free gift

Rover storypaper Number 1597, cover dated 4th February 1956, with free Pocket Puzzler gift

Valiant Number One, cover dated 6th October 1962

Tarzan Weekly Number 1, cover dated 11th June 1977, with free Survival Kit gift

A decent pile of Holiday Specials can also be found, including 2000AD, Cheeky, Frankie Stein, Lion, Pippin, Playhour, Victor, Warlord and Wow, plus early Topper from 1953, TV Century 21 from 1965, numerous pre-1970 Beano and Dandy comics – and a small selection of 1960s US comics.

There’s even some of the Gerry Anderson-related Candy comic on offer – one of the most peculiar publications I’ve ever seen, to be honest!

Candy Issue 17, cover dated 13th May 1967

Lion Epic Summer Spectacular Special 1967

Shiver and Shake Holiday Special 1975

The Beano 881, cover dated 6th June 1959, features the first appearance of “The Three Bears”

Run by Phil Shrimpton, Phil Comics specialises in vintage comics and related items such as annuals, holiday specials, free gifts and original artwork.

Holding monthly eBay auctions, often with 500+ listings, they aim to bring a diverse array of items – and are always on the lookout for vintage comic collections, either to buy or auction on commission.

• Check out the latest auction here on eBay

• If you’re a comics collector, particularly of British comics and art, and haven’t yet saved Phil-Comics as a Seller to watch on eBay, you should do it now

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.