British comic art items, including “Robot Archie” pages from same story, span two Catawiki online auctions

By John Freeman on April 22, 2023

Two auctions with the exactly the same name on Catawiki include British comics art and work by British comic artists this week, one closing on Monday and the weekly International Original Comics Art Auction we’ve regularly featured here, on Thursday.

Here are the items on offer we’ve spotted this week…

• Modesty Blaise – Disguised as a Nun – (1982, No. 5469) – art by Neville Colvin (auction closes Monday)

Modesty Blaise No. 5469 - art by Neville Colvin

• Robot Archie – a page from the story “Robot Archie and the Mystery of the Giant Bats”, first published in Lion, issue cover dated 4th March 1967 (auction closes Monday)

Robot Archie - a page from the story “Robot Archie and the Mystery of the Giant Bats”, first published in Lion, issue cover dated 4th March 1967. Art by Ernest Kearon

• Robot Archie – a page from the story “Robot Archie and the Mystery of the Giant Bats”, first published in Lion, issue cover dated 18th March 1967 (auction closes Thursday)

• Storm Sketches, by “Trigan Empire” artist Don Lawrence

As ever, these auctions also offer a wide range of European comic art and illustration, well worth your perusal!

• International Original Comics Art Auction curated by Luca Mencaroni – Full Catalogue – closes Monday 24th April 2023

• International Original Comics Art Auction curated by Louis Girard – Full Catalogue – closes Thursday 29th April 2023

Potential Additional International Auction Costs

This advice box was last updated on Friday 6th May 2022

The UK’s departure from the European Union means there may be additional import duties on sales.

Prior to Brexit, the effective rate of UK tax on imports of art was 5%, which is lower than most other European countries. An owner could previously import an artwork to the UK from outside the EU and was then free to transport it to other EU countries, where the import tax rates may be higher, without incurring any further import-related tax charges. If the owner then wished to bring the artwork back to the UK, there would also have been no further tax charge.

The Guardian previously reported that online orders up to £135 are now supposed to have the UK’s prevailing VAT rate added at the point of sale by the EU retailer, which has to have registered with HM Revenue & Customs.

While buying from European sellers carries the sting of larger costs, the auction house Catawiki does now endeavour to provide an estimate of those in its lot descriptions.

Unfortunately, many smaller EU-based retailers have decided that the paperwork of collecting UK VAT is not worth the hassle and as a result will no longer supply UK consumers. It has also meant that some British sellers will no longer export to Europe.

This apolitical guide outlines what you should be aware of when buying or selling art internationally but is a work in progress

• Don’t forget Catawiki runs several regular auctions, including a dedicated US Comics auction, too – check out all the current lots on offer here

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as 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.