There was clearly some fierce bidding in the latest ComPal comic and comic art auction, with some high prices paid for the top lots, among them a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man, signed by Stan Lee, and a rare copy fo The Dandy Issue 2, published in 1937, complete with free “jumping frog” gift.
Amazing Fantasy 15 (1962) with Stan Lee signature to splash page margin and photograph of original owner with Stan Lee at Excel Centre Comic Con Sunday Feb 16th 2012 where the comic was signed
Good cover gloss, Biro ‘6’ to cover and light blue colour touch to Spider-Man’s eyes, villain’s eyes and ankle sock. 1 inch margin tear to page 25
Published in The Dandy Issue 2 sold for £4550, despite “rust marks on the back cover”, and the accompanying “Hopping Frog” gift that came with it back in 1937 for £560.
Dandy Issue 2
Dandy Comic No 2 free gift Jumping Frog (1937). In full working order, 82-year-old Froggy still jumps! Only a few examples survive
A copy of Beano Issue Two, published in 1938, complete with promotional flyer sold for just over £3000 and a bound set of wartime Beanos – rare because comics were recycled for the war effort – sold for £2200.
The highest price paid for artwork featured in this auction was £8600 for a double page spread of “Thunderbirds” art from the 1960s comic TV 21, by Frank Bellamy, which sold for an eye-watering £8300. This is a record price for a Bellamy art work, almost double the previous two Thunderbirds that sold for over £4000.
A “Dan Dare” page, also by Bellamy, published in Eagle, sold for £2050.
Thunderbirds original double page artwork (1967) drawn, painted and signed by Frank Bellamy for TV Century 21 No 105, 1967. From the Bob Monkhouse archive. Carrying a priceless shipment, Deathprobe 1’s controls are jammed and the pilot is refused permission to abort … Thunderbirds 2 and 3 are go …
Dan Dare original artwork painted and signed by Frank Bellamy for The Eagle Volume 11, No 15 page 2 (9th April 1960). Dan and Pierre blast off in Nimbus Two in search of the wreck of her sister ship. From the Bob Monkhouse archive
While none of them close to these eye-watering prices, it was good to see that some 1950s comics, some featuring the earliest work of artists such as Sydney Jordan, didn’t do too badly in the sale, items from the Peter Hansen Archive. Copies of the Super-Sonic comic sold for £350, while a lot featuring his other popular early character, Hal Starr, sold for £180.
Striking covers for Super-Sonic, published in the 1950s by Sports Cartoons Ltd. Featuring art by “Jeff Hawke” co-creator Sydney Jordan. From the Peter Hansen Archive
Compal run comics and comic art auctions through the year, offering a range of British and US titles.
• You can view all the lots in the auction, cold and unsold here on The-Saleroom, but you will need to register to see sale prices | Compal Official Site and Past Catalogues: www.compalcomics.com
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “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.
Categories: Auctions, British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, US Comics
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That’s a record price for a Bellamy TB spread I believe.
It is – I’ve updated the item to note that. Thanks Mike