There are 300 listings in the latest Phil-Comics eBay auction, with a wide array of scarce British comic collectables on offer. The auction draws to a close this weekend.

Lots include annuals, comics, some with their original free gifts included, bound volumes (more from the DC Thomson Archive), posters, comic club badges, more original comic scripts by David Motton, publisher letters and a great selection of original artwork (some re-offered)

We’ve picked out just some of the great items on offer. Check out the current full catalogue here on eBay – bidding starts to close on Sunday 13th September 2025

Comic and Newspaper Strip Art

Phil-Comics used Lambiek Profiles for Creator Information. Artworks presented chronologically

James Francis “Frank” Horrabin was born in Peterborough on 1st November 1884. He studied at Sheffield School of Art, where he met his first wife, Winifred Batho. Horrabin was a writer and cartoonist. For two years he was Labour Member of Parliament for Peterborough where he was born. He was educated at Stamford School, and studied metalwork design at the Sheffield School of Art. Soon he became a staff artist on the Sheffield Telegraph in 1906, and art editor for the Yorkshire Telegraph and Star in 1909. In 1911, he moved to London as art editor of The Daily News. It was in 1919 that he created “The Adventures of the Noah Family” in the Daily News, originally a daily panel cartoon, later a continuing four-panel comic strip. It featured a suburban family who shared their names with the Biblical Noah and his sons, who lived at The Ark, Ararat Avenue with their pet bear.

Cyril ‘Gwynne’ Price was born in Penrhiwfer, Wales on 8th February 1905. He attended Abertridwr and Caerphilly County schools. He had little formal art training, attending Cardiff Art School for just three weeks. His first job was as a miner, joining the colliery when he was 14. After ten years, the mines closed and his family moved to Bristol. His brother-inlaw was a well-known amateur athlete and Price accompanied him to various meetings.

He revealed a talent for drawing by caricaturing some of the athletes which, with the help of various sports reporters he met, were published in the Bristol Evening World (between 1932-1935). In 1933 he contributed some comic work to the same paper, the Evening World, and this led to him submitting work to AP comics. His work during the 1930s appeared in titles which included Chips (1934), Comic Cuts (1935), Joker (1937), Jolly (1938) and Butterfly (1939). Price continued to draw for AP comics during the 1940s, but paper shortages meant that work was hard to come by. In 1948 he began work on a children’s picture feature for the Daily Graphic, which was collected together and reprinted in several Whiskers annuals. Using the name ‘Kim’ he also drew the strip cartoon “Harry” for the Daily Sketch, 1953-1954. In the 1950s and 1960s his work appeared in TV Comic (1953-1957), Playhour (1959), Top Spot (1960), Smash! (1966), Pow! (1967), and Thunder (1970).

Cyril Price died of a heart attack on 17th September 1970. He had an excellent style well-suited to the comics of the AP, particularly those issued between the wars. The editor of one Whiskers Annual called him “the foremost animal artist for children in this country”.

Comic Scripts

Club Badges and Memorabilia

You’ll find several comic club badges in this latest auction.

EAGLE and GIRL comic-related items include a rarely seen item 1951 Booklet – a “Report to the Members” by Marcus Morris, in 1951, with a separate compliments style sheet which says “With very best wishes on the occasion of the First Birthday of EAGLE from all the Staff and the Editor Marcus Morris”.

Comics With Free Gifts

Promotions

A rare promotional poster clearly identifying Buster as “The Son of Andy Capp”, promoting the first three issues of Buster, made from reasonable thick cardboard with two holes (as issued) to the top centre edge, to be strung up and hung in newsagents to promote Fleetway’s brand new comic in May 1960. The poster promotes its free gifts. Phil-Comics say they’ve never seen this poster before “and it’s a lovely item, beautifully designed and promoted the launch of Buster and the free gifts in the first two issues.

“It looks like the bottom section of this poster has been cut off as the text continues at the base and it should also have a white box with a picture of the gift from #3 – Instant Disguise Kit. As we’ve not seen another we can’t confirm that, but looks to be the case. That said, it’s still very desirable in its existing form.

It measures approx 13 x 9.25 inches and is printed on both sides.

• Check out the current full catalogue here on eBay – bidding starts to close on Sunday 13th September 2025

• About the Author
• Latest Posts

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.

• British Comic Rarities aplenty in latest Phil-Comics auction, closing this weekend
• In Review: No Refuge by Joe Brady and Patrice Aggs
• New issue of comics anthology, World War 3 Illustrated, out next week

Categories: Auctions, British Comics, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds

Tags: Auction News, downthetubes News, Phil-Comics