Confirming the variety of Dan Dare merchandise sold in the 1950s never ceases to surprise us, a “Plaz Mask” featuring Frank Hampson’s space hero is a new item on us.
Offered alongside a beautifully preserved Subbuteo table football set, a Lion comic quiz wheel and a Mr Punch puppet and a “Bridal Doll”, part of a much larger Toys, Trains & Militaria Sale from Tamworth-based Richard Winterton Auctioneers on Wednesday 28th January 2026, check this rarity out here. (As usual, you’ll need to be registered to bid; it’s also being offered via The-Saleroom).
Dan Dare fan Brian Hayes tells us the masks were made in Brighton by Masks and Mouldings Ltd., launched in 1954. “There are three Eagle mask that I’m aware of,” he tells us. “Dan Dare, Sondar and Harris Tweed. Fragile to say the least.”
Do you have these masks in your Dan Dare collection? Do let us know, below!
The auction also includes a wide range of Matchbox toys, a boxed Corgi Batman car, a boxed Airfix Combat Set, Meccano sets, Kenner Six Million Dollar Man boxed figures (both Steve Austin and rival Maskatron), Action Man, Doctor Who, Star Trek items and much more.
• Toys,Trains & Militaria Sale (Tamworth), 9.30pm Wednesday 28th January 2026, Richard Winterton Auctioneers, the Auction Rooms, 34-35 Church Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 7BX | Auction Catalogue Here – you must be registered to bid
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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.
Categories: Auctions, British Comics, Comics, Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Merchandise, Other Worlds, Star Trek
Today’s Entertainment, Memorabilia & Movie Props at Ewbank’s offers Frank Hampson, Star Wars, Harry Potter rarities