If you’re a fan of The Beano or The Dandy, then the latest Compalcomics – now live – is definitely up your street, with a large number of early issues on offer, along with an assortment of comics art that includes Dan Dare, Rupert the Bear art from 1971 and a page of Oor Wullie by Dudley D. Watkins, published in 1965.
The company’s September auction delivered some superb results with a Beano Number One selling for £17,300, the complete Beano year of 1943 hammer at £2850 and the Beano Book 3 (1942) at £3050. Individual early issues continued in the high hundreds in fresh condition.
“Big Eggo” gets a serious comeuppance in this wartime issue of The Beano (Issue 71).
Dandy Comic Number 1 (1937) with original 4-page flyer for Dandy Numbers 1 and 2 (1937). Featuring the first adventures of Korky The Cat, Desperate Dan and Keyhole Kate. The Flyer is a mini-comic in its own right.
A wartime Dandy. Because comics were recycled due to paper shortages, these comics are quite rare.
Also on offer is is Dudley Watkins Beano front cover artwork from 1969, one of the last he ever drew.
Beano original front cover artwork (1969) by Dudley Watkins for issue 1403 cover dated June 7 1969. A copy of the original comic is included in the lot. Biffo is reading his family tree as Captain Biffo of the King’s Own Hussar’s carried the news of victory at Waterloo to the King. He is rewarded with a new pair of Wellington’s boots! One of Dudley Watkins last artworks before his death later that year. The Beano ‘header’ is an enlarged laser colour copy. The artwork is cut into 2 pieces (outside the panel borders) not affecting text or illustrations. Poster colour on cartridge paper. 22 x 15 ins
Various 1950s and 1960s first issues of British comics offered in the 2015 Compalcomics auction. Included in the lot: Boy’s World Number 1 (interior page competition cut-out), Buster 1, Junior Express 1, Junior Mirror 1, New Record Mirror 1, POW! 2, 3, Swift 1 (trimmed), Top Spot 1, and WHAM! 1 (with Leo Baxendale’s ‘The Wacks’ introducing newcomers, The Rolling Stones!)
Wham! Issue One (published in 1964) and POW! Issue One (published in 1967)
A great assembly of Fireball XL5 items is on offer.
Dan Dare original artwork for Eagle Volume 9 No 49 (1958) by Don Harley. The small lower panel is a colour photocopy. These visuals were generally discarded once the finished artwork was completed and surviving pieces are rare. Notice the lower panel text ‘for Pete’s sake, look, sir!’ was changed to ‘Look, sir’ in the final artwork (this board illustrated in Hawk Books Number 8 ‘The Phantom Fleet) and the hand of editor the ‘Rev’ Marcus Morris may have been at play here. Watercolour on board. 14 x 14 ins
Rupert and the Popweed original artwork (1971) attributed to Alfred Bestall. From the 1971 Rupert Annual Page 42. With acetate overlay and tracing paper pencil outline taped to back board. Alfred Bestall prepared his signed outline drawings in indian ink which were then photographed on to acetate overlays prior to the normal printing process. Poster colour on board. 11 x 10 ins
Rupert and the Popweed original artwork (1971) attributed to Alfred Bestall. From the 1971 Rupert Annual Page. 47.
• View the November 2015 Compalcomics Auction her on the-saleroom.com
Compalcomics holds four auctions a year. Results of most auctions are posted online shortly after the closing date. Important Note: If you have a question about any of the items in the catalogue, please send an email to Compalcomics director Malcolm Phillips at this address: comicbook@compalcomics.com
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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.
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