British Comic Free Gifts Galore offered in latest Phil-Comics auction

By John Freeman on January 13, 2025

There are almost 300 vintage comic auction listings in the first Phil-Comics eBay auction of 2025 – including plenty of free gifts of yesteryear.

They include Free Gifts offered with weekly comics such as 2000AD, Bimbo, Striker, Warlord and more – and some great comic reference works.

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.

There are plenty of other gems, too, including the first issue of Valiant and a brilliant book spotlighting the life and work of legendary British comic artist Roy Wilson written and signed by authors Alan Clark and David Ashford – an essential item for any comic historian! (There are a number of other reference books up for auction, too).

There’s original comic art on offer, too – “Popeye” original newspaper strip dated 8th March 1959 by Bill (Bela) Zaboly the story written by Tim Sims; a “Temps” strip by Frank Dickens, and a cartoon titled “In The Groove” by political cartoonist and caricaturist Emmwood aka John Musgrave-Wood, believed published in the 1950s given the style of the clothes, but where it was published is a mystery..

“*Temps” Original Comic Artwork, by Frank Dickens for the Daily Express*

*In The Groove” by political cartoonist and caricaturist Emmwood aka John Musgrave-Wood, believed published in the 1950s*

Here are some of the auction highlights – check out the full catalogue here on eBay

The auction closes from Sunday 19th January 2025 and, as usual, bidding is fierce on some key lots.

2000AD Prog 3 cover dated 12th March 1977 With Free Gift – Red Alert Survival Wallet

• Check out the full catalogue here on eBay

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.