Battle Picture Library cover art by Fernando Fernández, Axa art and more in latest Catawiki International Comic Art Auction

By John Freeman on August 21, 2021

Fans of newspaper strips “Axa” and “Modesty Blaise” are likely to be keeping an eye on this week’s Catawiki International Comic Art Auction, which includes examples by Enrique Badia Romero, also with a smashing World War Two painting by Fernando Fernández, used as the cover of Battle Picture Library No.330; and more examples of “Robot Archie” by Ernest Kearon. Plus, if you’re a fan of the 1970s TV series Kung Fu, some art by Enric Sio may be of interest.

Here’s what we’ve spotted…

*Art by Fernando Fernández, used as the cover of Battle Picture Library No. 330, commissioned through Selecciones Ilustradas in 1974*

*An original Axa comic strip by Romero from 1979. Indian ink on pencil, on cardboard paper, with notes indicating it was intended for use in The Sun on 29th May 1979*

A page from an episode of the "Robot Archie" story "The Screaming Beetle" for Lion (a "rush job" as noted in the gutter, for the issue cover dated 22nd May 1965) - art by Ernest Kearon — *A page from an episode of the “Robot Archie” story “The Screaming Beetle” for Lion (a “rush job” as noted in the gutter, for the issue cover dated 22nd May 1965) – art by Ernest Kearon*

Another page from an episode of the "Robot Archie" story "The Screaming Beetle" for Lion (a "rush job" as noted in the gutter, for the issue cover dated 22nd May 1965) - art by Ernest Kearon — Another page from an episode of the “Robot Archie” story “The Screaming Beetle” for Lion (a “rush job” as noted in the gutter, for the issue cover dated 22nd May 1965) – art by Ernest Kearon

Modesty Blaise "The Girl in the Iron Mask" (1991) - art by Romero — *Modesty Blaise “The Girl in the Iron Mask” (1991) – art by Romero*

A curious original pencil drawing by innovative Spanish comic artist Enric Sió, featuring the main characters from the television series "Kung-Fu", starring David Carradine. Sio drew some "Battler Briton" stories for Fleetway in the 1960s — A curious original pencil drawing by innovative Spanish comic artist Enric Sió, featuring the main characters from the television series “Kung-Fu”, starring David Carradine. Sio drew some “Battler Briton” stories for Fleetway in the 1960s

• Check out all the items offered by Catawiki in this week’s International Comic Art Auction here – bidding closes at 7.00pm on Thursday 12th August 2021

Do note that the UK’s departure from the European Union may mean additional import duties on sales. Catawiki highlights items offered from the continent that will incur additional fees. Prior to Brexit, the effective rate of UK tax on imports of art was 5%, which is lower than most other European countries. An owner could previously import an artwork to the UK from outside the EU and was then free to transport it to other EU countries, where the import tax rates may be higher, without incurring any further import-related tax charges. If the owner then wished to bring the artwork back to the UK, there would also have been no further tax charge.

This apolitical guide outlines what you should be aware of when buying or selling art internationally but it is a work in progress

• Online orders up to £135 are now supposed to have the UK’s prevailing VAT rate added at the point of sale by the EU retailer, which has to have registered with HM Revenue & Customs. Lots of smaller EU-based retailers have decided that the paperwork of collecting UK VAT is not worth the hassle and as a result will no longer supply UK consumers

About the Author
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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.