Peter Hansen’s Comics Curiosities: “The Wonder Packet of English Comics”

Comic collector Peter Hansen. Behind him, just some of the bound editions of comics assembled for internal use by various British  comic companies such as Amalgamated Press and IPC
Comic collector Peter Hansen. Behind him, just some of the bound editions of comics assembled for internal use by various British comic companies such as Amalgamated Press and IPC

British comics archivist Peter Hansen’s massive collection of comic-related items comprises an amazing range of comics related material, including girl’s and boy’s comics, teenage titles, and juvenile comics, annuals, flyers, original free gifts, advertising, toys and games related to the comics, original artwork, fanzines, memorabilia, artist’s archives, publishers archives as well as almost 900 bound volumes of British comics of which the majority belonged to the original publishers.

We’re delighted he has kindly given downthetubes permission to post some of his short items about just a few some of the smashing comic collectibles he owns…

The Wonder Packet of English Comics (1940s)

The Wonder Packet of English Comics - Cover

The Wonder Packet of England Comics is a little rarity from Soloway Publishing, which was actually released in 1940 or 1941. Typically, these were destined for places like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, but not Canada, from what I can find out.

Anyway, it has a Giclée cover common at the time, the same card cover as the Giclée image underneath. Then, when you open the card cover, a number of the returns are in the actual comic.

The Wonder Packet of English Comics - Cover

Interestingly, they include three different very rare early Soloway publications inside featuring a range of strips and characters. I have a few of these by different publishers and they always fascinate me.

Both All Fun and All Star Comic were published between 1940 and 1949.

ComPal Auctions has previously sold an item like this that included copies of Comic Adventures 1 – 4.

Solway Publishing - All Fun Comic Volume 1 No. 2
Solway Publishing - All Fun Comic Volume 1 No. 4
Solway Publishing -  Comic Capers Volume 1 No. 2
Solway Publishing -  Comic Capers Volume 1 No. 3
Solway Publishing -  All Star Volume 1 No. 2
Solway Publishing -  All Star Volume 1 No. 4

Sadly, I have no idea who the artists are and haven’t really looked into it, and there is nothing in Denis Gifford’s guide to these titles…

Peter Hansen

Read (and watch) our interview with Peter Hansen and his hopes for a permanent national British comic collection here



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1 reply

  1. Superb! Although I was alive and kicking during the 1940s, I don’t recall reading these 2 – highly evocative of the era! comics.

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