Rare Dalek Art from the 1976 Doctor Who and the Daleks Omnibus comes to auction

By John Freeman on August 15, 2025

A unique, beautifully hand drawn piece of original artwork from the 1976 Doctor Who and The Daleks Omnibus is being offered for sale on eBay.

The art, believed the work of Rodger Towers, depicts a Thal attacking a Dalek to overpower it on the planet Spiridon, and was one of the illustrations for the Planet of the Daleks novelisation, by Terrance Dicks, originally scripted by Dalek co-creator Terry Nation.

Published by Artus and Marks and Spencer, Doctor Who and The Daleks Omnibus was a big, colourful hardback book and a unique item of Doctor Who merchandise. Full of creative fresh art based on the television series, and beyond, for many years the artists behind the project went unidentified and unrecognised.

Fortunately, thanks to the diligent efforts of the team behind Vworp Vworp magazine, the artists were identified as Ivan Rose, Tony Phebey and Rodger Towers, with Rodger providing most of the pencil illustrations, including, it’s believed this art, used twice in the book.

*Detail from the original Dalek art offered for sale on eBay*

*The art, believed the work of Rodger Towers, as published in Doctor Who and The Daleks Omnibus*

Offered for sale by Dalek maker Julian Vince, this particular piece is just under 30cm square, and drawn on paper, which has separated from its card backing, due to its 50 year age.

“The photos don’t do it justice,” Julian says, “as it is clearly drawn in fine detail by a very confident artist whose use of the pencil strokes make it a dynamic piece. Superb up close!”

• Check out this unique Doctor Who and The Daleks Omnibus art here on eBay

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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.