An astonishing number of original “Dan Dare” artworks from Eagle – including what appears to be the very first front page of the first issue, drawn by Frank Hampson and his team – are up for auction next week at Cooper and Tanner.
Offered by Frome-based auction house Cooper and Tanner as part of its Antique, Collectable and Interior Sale on Wednesday 5th June, the artworks span several volumes of the original Eagle published in the 1950s, some looking in great condition for their age, despite clearly being on display by their latest owner.
Although faded, one highlight of the auction has to be the inclusion of the very first “Dan Dare” page to run in Eagle, although as of writing, there’s no indication if the pen, ink and watercolour artwork is the original artwork created for the front page of the first issue of Eagle, or a later recreation, but while there are minor differences, they can perhaps be explained as having been amended at production stage.
Based on feedback by more than one artist, we’re pretty sure it is genuine (we have also contacted the auction house), but it rather begs the question, why have they described it so strangely, particularly given its use, when they are far more definitive about the publishing history of other lots on offer? Hopefully, we may be able to update this article with their response before the auction opens.
One alternative suggestion is that this this may be an enlarged edition of the free version of the Eagle sent out to schools etc prior to launch. The resolution is not good enough to identify it as original art, but if it were, it wouldn’t have such white gutters, balloons and captions. Unfortunately, the auction description is misleading, as it suggests it’s an original.
You can register to bid on the auction house web site here, or via The-Saleroom (do note additional sales fee apply when bidding on the latter).
All the following artworks are attributed to Frank Hampson, although of course he worked with a team of artists on the strip.
“Dan Dare” for the Eagle, Volume One, issue 8, page 2, credited to Frank Hampson 
“Dan Dare” for the Eagle, Volume One, issue 10 
Dan Dare in the Eagle, Volume One, issue 12 
Dan Dare for the Eagle, Volume One, issue 20 
Dan Dare for the Eagle, Volume Two, issue 5 
Dan Dare for the Eagle, Volume Two, issue 6 
Dan Dare for the Eagle, Volume Two, issue 6 – detail 
Dan Dare for the Eagle, Volume Four, issue one 
Dan Dare for Eagle Volume 4 Issue 17 
Dan Dare for Eagle Volume 8, Issue 26 
Dan Dare for Eagle, Volume 8, Issue 26 
A Dan Dare page from the 1951 Eagle annual
Two Eagle-related prints are also in the auction. One is the original “Dan Dare Space Chaplain” featured in early Eagle prototypes with art by Frank Hampson; the other a schematic of the Anastasia, Dan Dare’s spacecraft, with art by Frank Hampson and Eric Eden.
Also offered in the auction is a Ladybird Books artwork, “Old Mother Hubbard“, illustrated by Frank Hampson, and original “Jeff Hawke” art for the Daily Express, by Sydney Jordan. There’s railway artworks by Terence Cuneo aplenty, too.
Some James Bond cars and other models are also included in the auction.
A Single Owner Sale of NASA, Space Race and other related items, which includes art by American astronaut Alan Bean, is taking place on the same day – definitely a red letter day for space and SF fans in Frome, then!
• Cooper and Tanner – Antique, Collectable and Interior Sale 9.00am Wednesday 5th June 2024 Cooper and Tanner, The Agricultural Centre, Standerwick, Frome, Somerset BA11 2QB | You can register to bid on the auction house web site here, or via The-Saleroom (do note additional sales fee apply when bidding on the latter) | Viewings: Monday 3rd June 2024 9.00 – 6.00pm, 4th June 2024 9.00 – 5.00pm
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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: Art and Illustration, Auctions, British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds
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Hope the colour isn’t really as washed out as it looks on these vintage copies. Eagle, with its glossy paper and rich colour, was a real ray of sunshine in post-war austerity Britain! The collectors’ volumes of recent years are no match for the originals with their scrupulously exact colour printing. Sheer luxury!
Because of the materials used, if artwork is displayed in certain conditions it can fade, a problem not confined to “Dan Dare” art by the original team, as offered here. Frank Bellamy’s work on “Thunderbirds”, for TV Century 21, for example, has similar problems.