Dan Dare curiosity included in Adam Partridge auction today

By John Freeman on June 11, 2024

Dan Dare and Thunderbirds rub shoulders with fine art and other collectibles, in a Two Day Sale of Antiques, Fine Art, Jewellery & Silver with The Studio of Jack Millar from Adam Partridge Auctioneers, starting today in their London auction rooms, in Ruislip.

Included in the massive sale of fine art, jewellery, toys, model kits and more is a framed Thunderbirds film poster, and other Gerry Anderson-related collectibles, and an uncredited Dan Dare artwork described as “Dan Dare II; an original watercolour and gouache design for Virgin Games’ Mekon’s Revenge”, released in 1988.

Unframed, measuring at 56 x 44cm, downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf has, however, suggested it may in fact be an early design for the cover of Dan Dare III – The Escape, which was published in 1990 with a completely different cover.

*Above: the Dan Dare art being offered today at auction, with dressing for the Virgin “Dan Dare” game, “Mekon’s Revenge”, alongside the published cover for the third game, “The Escape”*

A vintage “Yellow Submarine” Beatles poster and a Royal cartoon by the brilliant Punch cartoonist Ed McLachlan are also going under the hammer.

The auction starts at 10.00am today, Tuesday 11th June 2024, full details and bidding links here on the Adam Partridge website or here on The-Saleroom.

• Two Day Sale of Antiques, Fine Art, Jewellery & Silver with The Studio of Jack Millar (London) | Day One – Lot: 1 to 701 – 11th Jun, 2024 10:00 | Day Two – Lot: 1000 to 1465 – 12th Jun, 2024 10:00 | Auction Catalogue here

Virgin Games Dan Dare Game Guides

• Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future

• Dan Dare II: Mekon’s Revenge

• Dan Dare III: The Escape

With thanks to Richard Sheaf

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.