Auctioneers Catawiki is running a number of StandWithUkraine Charity Auctions across its web site, until 21st March 2022, and a number of comic artworks and prints are among the lots on offer.
All special objects have been donated by Catawiki’s seller community, with proceeds and commissions for these auctions going directly to UNICEF, which is at the forefront of the response supporting children and their families affected by the conflict with essential, life saving, services.
Catawiki will also double the total commission amount.
Alongside vintage cameras, train models, music memorabilia and more, on offer are comic artworks by European creators that include Thomas Du Caju, Hermann, Gerard Leever, Milo Manara, Felix Meynet, and others.
Thomas du Caju‘s art is from his series De Muizen van Leningrad (The Mice of Leningrad), published by Dupuis – and it seems appropriate that work from a story set in a city in the Soviet Union under siege during World War Two is being used to raise funds for the people of Ukraine, who are under siege by Russian forces.
Also on offer are three superb limited edition posters by Italian artist Milo Manara, from his ‘Donne e Motori’ portfolio. They are hand signed in original and in pencil by the author Milo Manara and numbered in a limited edition of 200 copies.
Bidding looks likely to be fierce for a set of smashing prints based on scenes from the Tintin story, Race to the Moon, by Hergé. Bids have already hit over 100 for the Portfolio Emaillerie Belge – On a marché sur la Lune – (1985)
• Search #StandWithUkraine on Catawiki for all items on offer, to bid and support | Use this search link for all comics art featured in this special charity auction
Potential Additional International Auction Costs
This advice box was last updated on Friday 6th May 2022
The UK’s departure from the European Union means there may be additional import duties on sales.
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.
The Guardian previously reported that 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.
While buying from European sellers carries the sting of larger costs, the auction house Catawiki does now endeavour to provide an estimate of those in its lot descriptions.
Unfortunately, many 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. It has also meant that some British sellers will no longer export to Europe.
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: Art and Illustration, Auctions, Comic Art, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Merchandise, Other Worlds
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