Calvin and Hobbes Press Kit rarity has Bill Watterson fans a-tizzy

By John Freeman on May 16, 2025

Heritage Auctions regularly offers opportunity to buy some great comic art, but often it’s the peripheral memorabilia that sparks interest. That’s certainly true of a rare Calvin and Hobbes Comic Strip Press Kit, which is attracting some fierce bidding this week.

Calvin and Hobbes Comic Strip Press Kit (Universal Press Syndicate, 1985).

Included alongside many other treasures in the current Comic Books Select Auction, the Press Kit was produced by Universal Press Syndicate in 1985. It’s described as “a very scarce promotional folder from the initial solicitation of Calvin and Hobbes sent to prospective newspapers”.

Measuring 9″ x 12″, The Kit includes a one-page bio of cartoonist Bill Watterson, a page of sample ads, and proof sheets with 30 dailies and three colour Sunday proofs.

It comes wrapped in a full-colour wraparound cover illustration by Watterson, similar to the those Bill created used on early collections of the strip in the 1980s.

Since Watterson has never authorised merchandising of Calvin and Hobbes, needless to say the strip’s rare associated artefacts are pretty sought after, so it’s no wonder this item has bids closing on £1000, as of publishing this item!

Check out this Calvin and Hobbes gem here on Heritage Auctions. Small fortune required to buy! Anyone asked Calvin for a money making scheme?

Calvin and Hobbes 1987 Collection Cover – the first collection of the popular comic strip that features Calvin, a rambunctious six-year-old boy, and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes, who comes charmingly to life

Bill Watterson is the creator of Calvin and Hobbes, one of the most popular and well-regarded cartoon strips of the twentieth century.

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes - Hardcover Slipcase Edition 2005

The Mysteries by Bill Watterson and John Kascht

Calvin and Hobbes – the strip collected in various formats and many languages, including a gorgeous slipcase edition, back in 2005 – appeared in newspapers from November 1985 until Watterson’s retirement in 1996. He also created The Mysteries with John Kascht, published in 2023, a fable for grown-ups.

• Heritage Auctions 2025 May 18-20 Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Comic Books Select Auction #122520 – Full Catalogue

• Read Calvin and Hobbes on GoComics

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.