Compal‘s first auction for 2022 has just opened for bidding with a host of British comic goodies on offer – including a star lot, the very first issue of The Dandy, published in 1937.
There are around 25 copies known to exist and this example is in “VG-grade” – and there are more early Dandy comics on offer, including several complete years in bound volumes from the 1950s. The Beano is also well represented, with the scarce copies of No 6 on offer, and complete years of 1948, 1951 and 1952 – and two “Tom Thumb” artwork pages by Dudley Watkins.
In last November’s auction Compal sold a bound volume of DC Thomson’s short-lived but much-loved Magic comics numbered 25-80 for £7200 – and they have issues 2-7 on offer in this auction. They are relatively low grade examples, mostly retrieved from bound volumes, but rare nevertheless.
Tom Thumb double page artwork drawn and signed by Dudley Watkins for The Beano No 303 (1947) With original comic. In this Beano issue alone Watkins also drew Wavy Davy and His Navy, Lord Snooty and a double page Shipwrecked Circus. Practically half the comic drawn single-handedly by an artist at the height of his powers
The Dandy No. 18, cover dated 2nd April 1938 – first April Fool issue
Magic (1939) 2-7, with “Sooty Snowball” back cover printer’s proof for No 2, facsimile No 1 and The Magic Index by Ray Moore. These are rare but low grade issues
The Magic Fun Book 1942 – Koko supports the Magic Characters on the cover. Includes Peter Piper and Gulliver full page illustrations by Dudley Watkins with “The Tickler Twins in Wonderland”, “Sooty Snowball” and “Dick Turpentine the Hopeless Highway-Man”
There were only two Magic annuals published and the second, The Magic Fun Book from 1942, may tempt you in Fine grade.
Paget Publication’s Wonderman is a scarce, hotly contested title when it comes up for auction and most of the issues between No 1 and No 13 in fresh conditionare offered this time out.
There’s also some wonderful Eagle comic merchandise in this auction – a Dan Dare Braces, Belt and Sticker Set, Walkden Fisher’s Eagle centre-spread artwork of Sydney Harbour Bridge and a “Riders of the Range” Galloper Gun in “clip-clop”working order (we’ve never seen this beauty before).
Dan Dare Picture Cards (1953) 1-25 complete set [vfn/nm] (given away with Calvert’s Tooth Powder) with Dan Dare sweet cigarette cards 1-25 (missing Nos 2, 5, 10, 18, 25) by Clevedon Confectionary and scarce Dan Dare/Eagle 15 character sticker set (1950s)
Dan Dare Braces with Dan Dare Belt (broken buckle) and Eagle Birthday Cards (1952) 1-6 complete set by Mason’s of Kimble, with original envelopes
Eagle‘s sister paper, Girl, is represented with a “Dress Me” doll in 1950s original box, with comic printed dress and Girl belt buckle logo.
Girl ‘Dress Me’ doll in original box (1953), made by Palitoy. “She really walks” – and comes with Girl instruction leaflet. Hard plastic doll 14 ins tall, with weighted brown eyes, swivel head and jointed at the shoulder and hips. Wearing original ‘Girl’ comic print outfit and ‘Girl’ belt and buckle logo
Thriller Comics Library from Nos 61-150 are also up for bidding, along with Commando War Stories in Pictures continuing a run of items sold, this time from 201-500.
Check out the bright, fresh runs of (unfolded) The Beezer and The Topper comics, too, and a superb Buster collection from 1960-62, including “Buster’s Boomerang” and “Zoomer Jet”, two of the many “as new” free gifts in evidence.
Buster No 2 (cover dated 4th June 1960) wfg “Buster Zoomer Jet” in original printed bag, as new, with all further 1960s consecutive issues: 11 June – 31 Dec and Buster Club Badge and Milky Bar pin with photocopy Birthday Club Joining Form
The Hotspur No. 1 (1933)
Diana (1963-67) 1-17, 19-25, 27, 28, 30-159, 161-175, 178-209, 211-249 (near complete run missing 7 issues) Starring The Avengers TV Serial in colour by Emilio Frejo (Nos 199-224), with Emma Peel photo-cover (Diana Rigged?), Diana’s Pop Pages, Pin-Ups, Picture stories and Fashion tips
Look-in (1971) 1-51, complete year with free gifts
TV Century 21 Nos 1-89 and TV Tornado 1, this with with its free gift – “Batman and Batchute” complete the decade.
TV Tornado 1 (1967) wfg Batchute
Artwork on offer this time around includes an Atlantines page by Frank Hampson and unnamed Eagle studio artists, from the Dan Dare Pop-Up Book, more “Heros The Spartan” and “Garth” by Frank Bellamy and “Charley’s War” by Joe Colquhoun.
Dan Dare/Atlantines original artwork by Frank Hampson and studio artists from the Dan Dare Pop-Up Book (1953), a copy also included in this lot
Eagle original artwork, for Volume 1: No 34 (1950) – “Cortez, Conqueror of Mexico” by William Stobbs. With original comic. After beating off many Aztec attacks Cortez and his army retreat from the city into the jaws of another Aztec trap… William Stobbs (1914-2000) was head of design at the London College of Printing illustrating over 100 books including 20 of his own and ‘Cortez’ was his only comic strip artwork | Poster paint on board. 21 x 15 ins
Eagle original double page artwork of Sydney Harbour Bridge (1954) painted and signed by Walkden Fisher for The Eagle Volume 5: No 28 (1954) |Poster colour on board. 30 x 10½ ins
Heros the Spartan original double-page artwork (1965) painted and signed by Frank Bellamy. From The Eagle Vol. 16, No 24 centre spread, 1965. Matoumin rescues Heros from his prison to help plot revenge on El Raschid but they are caught in El Raschid’s trap, Matoumin is stabbed to death and Heros condemned to die in the arena at the hands of his own men… | Pelikan inks on board. 28 x 20 ins
TV21 No 90 original artwork (1971) – “The Tuffs of Terror Island” Page 2, by Tony Coleman, who worked on T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents for Tower Comics in 1966- offered with original comic
Garth, “Bubble Man”, original artwork (1975) drawn and signed by Frank Bellamy for the Daily Mirror 14.11.’76 | Indian ink on board. 21 x 7 ins
Garth, “Doomsmen”, original artwork (1975) drawn and signed by Frank Bellamy for the Daily Mirror 6.6.’75 | Indian ink on board. 21 x 7 ins
Garth, “The Wreckers”, two original artworks (1974) drawn and signed by Frank Bellamy for The Daily Mirror 18.1.’74 and 11.2.’74 | Indian ink on board. 21 x 7 ins
Garth’s “Wolfman of Ausensee” two original artworks (1972) by Frank Bellamy for The Daily Mirror | 24.6.’72 and 14.8.’72. Indian ink on board. 21 x 7 ins
Charley’s War: 4 original artworks (1981) by Joe Colquhoun from Battle-Action No 302 pgs 16-19. “By July 1916 The Germans were only two and a half miles from Verdun! ‘The Line of Panic’ was the last line of the French trenches and Blue, Ramon and Apache could hear the Boche military bands rehearsing their triumphant entry into the city. The German bombardment raged all day, smashing the Line of Panic out of existence as deadly phosgene gas drifted towards their trenches …” | Indian ink on card. 19 x 15 ins (4 consecutive artworks)
Transformers: three original sketches (1984) of Optimus Prime and Megatron by Richard Fisher with Transformers letter with details and thanks, Warrior contract of employment, three Marvel Comics Ltd letters confirming details of Transformers Firearms (literally) for Shockwave and Soundwave. With Transformers No 1 (1984) [vg] wfg Action Transfers sheet
Wrangler’s Roost was a wonderful Cowboy ‘B’ Movie fanzine from the 1970s – and there are copies ready to be lassoed… and how could you not be warmed by the 1950s title Welcome Weekly with its “Thrilling Romantic Stories to Make You Feel Young and Happy”?
Welcome Weekly (1958 D.C. Thomson) 3034-3046, 3060-3085 — offering “Thrilling Romantic Stories to Make You Feel Young and Happy”
The US section presents runs of Marvel Silver Age TheAvengers, Fantastic Four, Strange Tales, Tales of Suspense and X-Men – all high grade cents copies, along with DC COmics Batman, Detective Comics, 80pg Giants, JLA and Superman keys.
Postal and fax bids need to be with us by Friday 25th February 2022 – and Compal will enter them on your behalf in thesaleroom.com/Comic Book Auctions website closing on Sunday 27th February from 2.00 pm.
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.