Copy of the world’s earliest printed comic, “Glasgow Looking Glass”, up for auction today

By John Freeman on May 26, 2023

Coming up for auction today, Friday 26th May 2023, is a copy of one of the first ever “comics” – the Glasgow Looking Glass – ‘Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat’. Vol. 1, No. 2, published in 1825!

The Glasgow Looking Glass - 'Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat'. Vol. 1, No. 2, published in 1825

The publication was printed, published and sold by John Watson, and is dated 1825. Offered are three unbound leaves containing illustrated ‘comic’ style engravings by William Heath.

The Glasgow Looking Glass, later renamed the Northern Looking Glass, ran between 1825 and 1826, and is considered the first mass-produced example of a comic, featuring illustrations which narrating humorous stories.

The item is part of a larger auction of items of 19th and 29th century note from Bath-based auction house Auctioneum.

UPDATE: The comic sold for £60

• View the item here via The-Saleroom

With thanks to Richard Sheaf

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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.