Book Palace Books are running a special online auction “From the Vaults of The Book Palace” in partnership with Catawiki, ending later today (Tuesday 2nd December 2025).
The auction includes art by by greats such as Alfonzo Azpiri, Jesus Blasco, Neville Colvin (“Modesty Blaise” strips), Alan Davis (Fantastic Four, inked by Mark Farmer), Carlos Ezquerra, Adam Hughes, Sydney Jordan (“Jeff Hawke”), Don Lawrence (“Karl the Viking”), David Lloyd, Will Meugniot, Arthur Ranson, Reg Smythe (“Andy Capp”), Bill Titcombe, John Watson, and more.
From fairy tale artworks to Marvel Comics pages through comedy, nursery, newspaper strip art and signed, dedicated drawings, this is a diverse range of artworks from The Book Palace Collection, and well worth checking out.
All of the artworks are exclusively available from this auction. Here are just a few of the forty-plus original artworks on offer… view the full catalogue here.
“Sleeping Beauty Under the Spell” by Jesus Blasco (1958)
A large original watercolour, pen and ink painting by Jesus Blasco. Sleeping Beauty falls onto her bed as the spell takes hold. A lovely double page spread from the master of the illustrated fairy tale.
“Modesty Blaise – Garvin’s Travels” by Neville Colvin (1981)
Modesty Blaise and Sir Gerald Tarrant respond to a call from the CIA. regarding mysterious goings on at The University of Health on Taupita Island. Simultaneously, Willie Garvin (Modesty’s right hand man) is with his love interest Maude Tilller on the very same island. Colvin has drawn Modesty beautifully in both of these first two panels, and Garvin features in the third panel. A beauty of a strip.
“”Strontium Dog: Portrait of a Mutant” (Part 10), art by Carlos Ezquerra (1981)
An excellent page drawn for a striking page of “Strontium Dog: Portrait of a Mutant” ” Part 10, written by Alan Grant, drawn by Carlos Ezquerra and lettered by Steve Potter.
This powerful page shows a great variety of Mutants battling against the ‘Kreelers’- the huge lower panel shows a map of the United Kingdom in flames as civil war spreads throughout.
“Judge Dredd – Judgement Day” by Carlos Ezquerra (1992, one original page)
Original full colour Judge Dredd page by Carlos Ezquerra for the first ever crossover story between 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine, “Judgement Day”, published in Prog (issue) 795, cover dated 8th August 1992. This page features the evil ‘Sabbat the Necromagus’ who has resurrected every corpse in the entire world to serve as his zombie army. As you can see in this artwork, he is wearing a cloak of his victims faces. The Evil one has captured a Judge and is humiliating him and putting him to torture in an Iron Maiden.
The story was written by Garth Ennis and was published in 2000AD progs (issues) 786-799 but certain parts appeared in the Megazine between issue 4 – 9 This Judgement Day story is still referred to as a Mega-Epic.
“Jeff Hawke – A Sudden Thrill of Energy” by Sydney Jordan (1970)
A signed unique original pen and ink drawing by Sydney Jordan drawn for the newspaper strip “Jeff Hawke” from the Daily Express, No. 4881, from the story “S.O.S.”, first published in 1970. The strip is signed by Sydney Jordan on the front and back of the board, and rubber stamped ‘Stock 28 Jan 1970’. There are also two small pencil try out drawings on the reverse, possibly ideas for the mystical symbol which is in the completed strip.
The story “S.O.S.” was the first part of a two part story, “S.O.S.” and “Rescue Party”. The story features a Sphinx spaceship landing in Egypt which is shown in this strip. This is where Jane is touching the mystical symbol and feeling thrills of energy. The ancient Egyptians learnt architecture and wisdom from a space traveller, whose planet – Altair IV, 16.7 light years away – is now threatened by a comet…
“Karl the Viking – The Sword of Eingar”- Page 15 by Don Lawrence (1960, one original page)
A fantastic original Karl the Viking page drawn by Don Lawrence – title page was originally drawn for the 17th December 1960 cover dated issue of Lion. The detailed art perfectly portrays the story full of action, intrigue and suspense, and has a huge first panel featuring the hero.
“V for Vendetta” illustration by David Lloyd
A very nice dedicated drawing of V from V for Vendetta, drawn and signed by David Lloyd
“Wonderful Wonder Woman” by Will Meugniot
A stunning large signed painting of Wonder Woman by Will Meugniot created on 23rd January 2016
“Andy Capp” by Reg Smythe, for 12th January 1992
Original signed Andy Capp pen and ink board by Reg Smythe, 1992, titled Andy on the Doorstep, 38 cm by 13.3 cm, in excellent condition
“Benny Hill Cycles the Channel” by Bill Titcombe, for Look-In No. 31
A full colour signed painting of Star Wars Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, painted by comic artist John Watson.
“The Trigan Empire – The Creature from the Deep” by Gerry Wood (1978, two original pages)
Two “Trigan Empire” pages by Gerry Wood painted for Look and Learn, cover dated 2nd December 1978. These boards feature a mysterious deep-sea creature which has seeped into the Trigan submarine. The creature is sending the crew to sleep and they will surely perish if something is not done. The pages include Peric, the wisest and most scientific of the Trigans.
• The “From the Vaults of The Book Palace” auction ends at 7.00pm tonight, Tuesday 2nd December 2025
You need to be registered with Catawiki to bid. Book Palace Books will be handling all packing and shipping in house so you can expect their usual meticulous service.
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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.
Categories: Art and Illustration, Auctions, British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds
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