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Latest Phil-Comics Auction has a Free Gift Focus!

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This week Phil-Comics, the dedicated eBay comics auction house, have a smaller selection of just 160 auction listings on offer – but there are some cracking items in the new catalogue.

They include a great celebration of one of our favourite areas of British comics: the humble free gift. Unlike the business model of some newsstand publishers today, where a comic or magazine can sometimes seem ancillary to the toy that comes with the title every issue, a practice forced on them by distributors back in the 1990s, the free gifts of yesteryear were just that – given away, occasionally, to not only promote a new title and its early issues, but boost an ongoing title, too.

Several examples are on offer that the Phil-Comics team never seen before, let alone sold, so it’s a very good experience for all. As well as rarities for titles such as DC Thomson’s Hornet, there are examples of Free Gift issues for Doctor Who Weekly and Misty, among others, and loose Free Gifts for titles such as Bimbo and Bullet.

Some items may seem familiar, such as a copy of Radio Fun No. 991, cover dated 5th October 1957 – a copy, also complete with its free gift, was offered previously by Phil-Comics.

A good selection of comics, including a number of issues of Commando, Lady Penelope, The Shadow, TV Century 21, TV Comic (some featuring “Fireball XL5′) and TV Tornado are on offer, plus plenty of bound volumes, as well as original artwork, comic club badges, publisher letters and a couple of annuals round off the remainder this week.

Look out, too, for a carbon copy script of the fifth episode of the Dan Dare story “All Treens Must Die” by David Motton, which would be drawn by Keith Watson for Eagle Volume 15 No. 27, cover dated 4th July 1964. The storyline was a popular tale, which began in Volume 15 No. 23 (cover dated 6th June 1964) and lasted for twenty consecutive issues, with art by Keith Watson. Later episodes were reworked reworked as the merger of Eagle with Boy’s World loomed.

Will you find some elusive items for your collections?

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

These are just some of the items in the current auction. Check out the current full Phil-Comics catalogue here on eBay 

Comics With Free Gifts

These are just some of the items with Free Gifts in the current auction. Check out the current full Phil-Comics catalogue here on eBay 

Bunty No.458 cover dated 22nd October 1966 With Free Gift Bracelet - Rare
Bunty No.458 cover dated 22nd October 1966 With Free Gift Bracelet
Bunty No. 459 cover dated 29th October 1966 With Free Gift Bracelet Lucky Charms
Bunty No. 459 cover dated 29th October 1966 With Free Gift Bracelet Lucky Charms
Diana Pony Club Badge (1960s)
Diana Pony Club Badge (1960s)
Bullet Fireball Badge (1970s)
Bullet Fireball Badge (1970s)
  • Doctor Who Weekly No.1, cover dated 17th October 1979, With Free Gift
    Doctor Who Weekly No.1, cover dated 17th October 1979, With Free Gift
  • Doctor Who Weekly No.2, cover dated 24th October 1979, With Free Gift
    Doctor Who Weekly No.2, cover dated 24th October 1979, With Free Gift
  • Doctor Who Weekly No. 3, cover dated 31st October 1979, With Free Gift
    Doctor Who Weekly No. 3, cover dated 31st October 1979, With Free Gift
  • Doctor Who Weekly No. 4, cover dated 31st November 1979, With Free Gift
    Doctor Who Weekly No. 4, cover dated 31st November 1979, With Free Gift
Hornet No. 212 cover dated 30th September 1967 With Free Gift – Flying Disco
Hornet No. 212 cover dated 30th September 1967 With Free Gift – Flying Disco
Hornet No. 213 cover dated 7th October 1967 With Free Gift – Speed Hummer
Hornet No. 213 cover dated 7th October 1967 With Free Gift – Speed Hummer
Radio Fun No. 807, cover dated 27th March 1954 With Free Gift "Magnifier"
Radio Fun No. 807, cover dated 27th March 1954 With Free Gift “Magnifier”

Original Comic Art

These are just some of the artwork items in the current auction. Check out the current full Phil-Comics catalogue here on eBay – there are plenty more artworks by Roy Wilson on offer

Here's an ultra rare page of “The Bash Street Kids” original artwork, drawn by the highly esteemed artist Leo Baxendale, who created and drew the strip for The Beano from 1954 to 1962. He also created Minnie the Minx, Little Plum and The Three Bears. “Original artwork for Leo Baxendale hardly ever surfaces,” Phil Shrimpton notes. “We feel this page is extra special, as it's a single panel image, something that the artist did on numerous occasions to an incredibly high standard, in fact he was renowned for some of those large scenes with various sub plots.” This page appeared in the 1962 Beano Book, on page 31. It was part of a two-page story with each page comprising a full page, single panel. It measures 19 x 13.5 inches (approx 48 x 34 cm) and was drawn on fairly thin card, which was then pasted down onto a fairly thick piece of artboard. A border mount of white card was added on all four sides, and then the Bash Street Kids banner, with brick wall effect background, was pasted down on top. All of this was done originally in the preparation of this page. The red water colour paint colours are fresh and the black lines very crisp and sharp. The level of detail is fantastic and it's a pure pleasure to savour this up close. The reverse side has a 1/2 inch black ink stain, a sticker with pen writing to the centre and a piece of green sticky tape, folded back on itself and stuck down top and bottom - these look like they would come off easily, but we've left them on. Overall a wonderful page of art and an almost unique opportunity to acquire a page of original Leo Baxendale Bash Street Kids artwork from 1961, just a few months before he left the firm to join Odhams Press, where he helped in a big way to launch Wham comic.

Here’s an ultra rare page of “The Bash Street Kids” original artwork, drawn by the highly esteemed artist Leo Baxendale, who created and drew the strip for The Beano from 1954 to 1962. He also created Minnie the Minx, Little Plum and The Three Bears.

“Original artwork for Leo Baxendale hardly ever surfaces,” Phil Shrimpton notes. “We feel this page is extra special, as it’s a single panel image, something that the artist did on numerous occasions to an incredibly high standard, in fact he was renowned for some of those large scenes with various sub plots.”

This page appeared in the 1962 Beano Book, on page 31. It was part of a two-page story with each page comprising a full page, single panel. It measures 19 x 13.5 inches (approx 48 x 34 cm) and was drawn on fairly thin card, which was then pasted down onto a fairly thick piece of artboard. A border mount of white card was added on all four sides, and then the Bash Street Kids banner, with brick wall effect background, was pasted down on top. All of this was done originally in the preparation of this page.

The red water colour paint colours are fresh and the black lines very crisp and sharp. The level of detail is fantastic and it’s a pure pleasure to savour this up close.

“Overall a wonderful page of art,” Phil notes, “and an almost unique opportunity to acquire a page of original Leo Baxendale Bash Street Kids artwork from 1961, just a few months before he left the firm to join Odhams Press, where he helped in a big way to launch Wham comic.”

“Circus Ballerina” art, possibly for Princess, believed to be by Bill Lacey, from the estate of the late David Slinn, who worked in comics for several decades and was a supporter of the downthetubes. This thin piece of card measures 15 x 10 inches and features two panels of a comic strip. “Based on the style of the panels we suspect it may have been from a Picture Library style comic, possibly 1962 and possibly drawn by Bill Lacey,” say Phil Comics. “A lot of doubts we realise but hopefully the eventual winner will be able to source the published page. Beautifully crisp pen lines and detail of the various people and faces. A couple of very light corner creases.”
“Circus Ballerina” art, possibly for Princess, believed to be by Bill Lacey, from the estate of the late David Slinn, who worked in comics for several decades and was a supporter of the downthetubes. This thin piece of card measures 15 x 10 inches and features two panels of a comic strip. “Based on the style of the panels we suspect it may have been from a Picture Library style comic, possibly 1962 and possibly drawn by Bill Lacey,” say Phil Comics. “A lot of doubts we realise but hopefully the eventual winner will be able to source the published page. Beautifully crisp pen lines and detail of the various people and faces. A couple of very light corner creases.”
A mystery piece of “Dan Dare” Original Artwork, date and artist unknown, from the estate of the late David Slinn, who worked in comics for several decades. IT’s possible it’s an early artwork by David himself, inspired by his known admiration for both “Dan Dare” and Eagle. Whether it was published or not is unknown; the art measures 14 x 10 inches and looks to have been created in watercolour
A mystery piece of “Dan Dare” Original Artwork, date and artist unknown, from the estate of the late David Slinn, who worked in comics for several decades. IT’s possible it’s an early artwork by David himself, inspired by his known admiration for both “Dan Dare” and Eagle. Whether it was published or not is unknown; the art measures 14 x 10 inches and looks to have been created in watercolour
A copy of Radio Fun No. 291 cover dated 6th May 1944 With Preliminary Artwork by Roy Wilson, executed prior to his final drawing for publication. Wilson was a perfectionist and would often draw half, or even a full, strip but decide it wasn't quite good enough for his own high standards and consequently would re-draw it. So this is very close to the final version used for the comic and has the benefit of showing how he constructed his drawings. Here, he is attempting to perfect the entire third row (comprising three panels) of the rear cover "Stymie and his Magic Wishbone" strip. The panels demonstrate crisp lines and his pencil work. For whatever reason, Roy wasn't happy with these pieces, so started over. The page measures 15.75 x 4.25 inches and there's a vertical fold between the second and third panel
A copy of Radio Fun No. 291 cover dated 6th May 1944 With Preliminary Artwork by Roy Wilson, executed prior to his final drawing for publication. Wilson was a perfectionist and would often draw half, or even a full, strip but decide it wasn’t quite good enough for his own high standards and consequently would re-draw it. So this is very close to the final version used for the comic and has the benefit of showing how he constructed his drawings. Here, he is attempting to perfect the entire third row (comprising three panels) of the rear cover “Stymie and his Magic Wishbone” strip. The panels demonstrate crisp lines and his pencil work. For whatever reason, Roy wasn’t happy with these pieces, so started over. The page measures 15.75 x 4.25 inches and there’s a vertical fold between the second and third panel
Preliminary Artwork by Roy Wilson, executed prior to his final drawing for publication. Wilson was a perfectionist and would often draw half, or even a full, strip but decide it wasn't quite good enough for his own high standards and consequently would re-draw it. So this is very close to the final version used for the comic and has the benefit of showing how he constructed his drawings. Here, he is attempting to perfect the entire third row (comprising three panels) of the rear cover "Stymie and his Magic Wishbone" strip. The panels demonstrate crisp lines and his pencil work. For whatever reason, Roy wasn't happy with these pieces, so started over. The page measures 15.75 x 4.25 inches and there's a vertical fold between the second and third panel
Preliminary Artwork by Roy Wilson, executed prior to his final drawing for publication
Preliminary Artwork by Roy Wilson, executed prior to his final drawing for publication - and as published
Preliminary Artwork by Roy Wilson, executed prior to his final drawing for publication – and as published

British Comic Rarities

This letter to then aspiring artist David Slinn, who died last year, was written in response to a meeting with E.A. Roberts, representing Girl’s Art Department, a follow up to a meeting between them where David clearly asked about becoming an art assistant. The note suggests David follow up the enquiry after his “call-up”, a reference to obligatory National Service of the time.
This letter to then aspiring artist David Slinn, who died last year, was written in response to a meeting with E.A. Roberts, representing Girl’s Art Department, a follow up to a meeting between them where David clearly asked about becoming an art assistant. The note suggests David follow up the enquiry after his “call-up”, a reference to obligatory National Service of the time.

Re-offered Comic Art

This auction includes some artwork that did not meet reserve in previous auctions, including…

Beano Book 1974 Beano Town Original Art by Robert Nixon. A rarely seen page of original artwork from a DC Thomson title, by Robert Nixon . The first of a two page strip. Measures approx 19 x 12.25 inches (48 x 31 cm)
Beano Book 1974 Beano Town Original Art by Robert Nixon. A rarely seen page of original artwork from a DC Thomson title, by Robert Nixon . The first of a two page strip. Measures approx 19 x 12.25 inches (48 x 31 cm)
A silent strip from Cyril Price, signed as Kim, one of his pseudonyms; he used “Gwynne” on another strip, “The Whiskers Club”. Art measures approximately 15.5 x 5.75 inches (39.5 x 14.5 cm) and has the code 2714 on the reverse side. There is other pen writing to the reverse which we can't really make out, other than the date of 10th December 1953.
A silent strip from Cyril Price, signed as Kim, one of his pseudonyms; he used “Gwynne” on another strip, “The Whiskers Club”. Art measures approximately 15.5 x 5.75 inches (39.5 x 14.5 cm) and has the code 2714 on the reverse side. There is other pen writing to the reverse which we can’t really make out, other than the date of 10th December 1953
An episode of the short-lived humour strip “Scott Lanyard” for the Daily Sketch, published between 1955 and 1956. The strip was launched soon after McClelland had defected to the sketch after having spent 20 odd years at the Daily Mirror. Measures approximately 19 x 7.25 inches (48 x 18 cm) and has the code B125 to the first panel corner. The reverse side has 2584 written in pen
An episode of the short-lived humour strip “Scott Lanyard” for the Daily Sketch, published between 1955 and 1956. The strip was launched soon after McClelland had defected to the sketch after having spent 20 odd years at the Daily Mirror. Measures approximately 19 x 7.25 inches (48 x 18 cm) and has the code B125 to the first panel corner. The reverse side has 2584 written in pen
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