Children’s Books and Annuals auction includes first British Mickey Mouse annual and more

By John Freeman on September 30, 2020

Winchcombe-based British Bespoke Auctions is hosting an auction of Children’s Books and Annuals at 3.00pm today (Wednesday 30th September 2020).

Included in the auction is a copy of a rare wartime Magic annual published by DC Thomson, alongside more modern items including Beano, Tiger, Valiant annuals, bound volumes of comics such as The Dandy and loose comics lots, too.

Also on offer are a substantial number of rare Disney and Enid Blyton books, and a large number of Rupert Annuals. These include the very first British Mickey Mouse annual published in 1930, and a copy of the first Rupert annual, too.

An intriguing item is some original signed artwork by comic artist Carlos Freixas for June. Carlos (1925-2003) was a Spanish comic artist famous for his Western character ‘Pistol Jun’. Offered is a signed original piece of artwork for June, together with a letter from the sub-editor, Gaythorne Silvester. The recipients name and address has been removed, together with an issue of June cover dated 1st July 1972.

This auction is preceded by a larger sale of antiques that also includes vintage jigsaws, pop magazines, Disney records – and a lot of eight NatWest collectable pigs. Remember those?

Based in Winchcombe near Cheltenham and with satellite offices in Bath, Burford & Charlbury, Henley-on-Thames, Oxford, Woodstock and Windsor, Bespoke Auctions has a local heart with a world-wide reach. Services offered include Probate and Insurance Valuations, Estate Clearance, House Sales and Auctioneering.

• This Sale takes place Wednesday 30th September 2020, beginning with an Antiques, Jewellery and Collectables Sale starting online at 9.00am. An Automobilia Sale starts online at 2.00 pm and the Children’s Books & Annuals Sale starts online at 3.00 pm

• Browse the Children’s Books and Annuals catalogue

• Register to bid here

• Sign up here to be kept informed about book sales on UKauctioneers.com

John Freeman

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.