First issues and their free gifts galore, too, highlights of latest Phil-Comics auction

By John Freeman on May 17, 2024

The latest Phil-Comics eBay auction is now live with 260 vintage comic listings, and is awash with British first issues and associated free gifts, some considered quite rare.

Among the items is a personal letter from the late comic creator Leo Baxendale, outlining a new project to a fan, which makes for fascinating reading.

The crux of the letter was to promote Leo’s latest project, CD Romic. It’s fascinating to read copy written by Leo as he adds humour in places much like you imagined him added funny pieces in his comic strips.

Run by Phil Shrimpton, the award-winning Phil-Comics specialises in vintage comics and related items such as annuals, holiday specials, free gifts and original artwork.

Head to ebay.co.uk/str/philcomics for the full catalogue

The auction end on Sunday 19th May 2024.

*This “Fireworks” issue of The Beano, No. 746, cover dated 3rd November 1956, is one of many issues of the weekly comic on offer*

This copy of The Big One, cover dated 13th February 1965, is one of two copies of this experimental title in this auction. “The Big One was a very large format comic reprinting material from the 1950s, so was a bit cumbersome and outdated from the off,” notes auctioneer Phil Shrimpton. “It didn’t last long – just 19 issues – and this was the penultimate issue prior to its merger with Buster.”

*Buddy No. 3, cover dated 28th February 28 1981 With Free Gift Super Zoomer Balloon*

*Cor No. 2, cover dated 13th June 1970 With Free Gift Transfers and Bubble Gum (Rarely Seen)*

*Crunch No. 1, cover dated 20th January 1979 (No Free Gift, but good condition copy)*

*The Dandy No. 637, cover dated 6th February 1954 with Adventure Free Gift Flyer. One of many Dandy lots, including some Summer Specials*

*Nine Hotspur, Rover, Wizard, Adventure Free Gift Flyers 1950s and 1960s*

*Jag No. 1, cover dated 4th May 1968. No free gift. In addition to this first issue, this auction includes a virtually full collection of Jag (1968-1969), just the last issue missing*

*Knockout, 1972 Jan-Jun Half Year in Bound Volume*

*Little Star No. 1, cover dated 29th January 1972, published by DC Thomson. A rare title aimed at younger readers*

A copy of the very first Rupert Bear Book / Annual 1936, in original dustjacket. It’s hard to find a copy of this in the original dustjacket, and this is only the third one Phil-Comics has handled in 20 odd years of buying and selling children’s annuals on eBay

*Rupert Bear Colour Plate for Page 92 of the 1971 Annual. Art by Alfred Bestall*

Skipper storypaper No. 1, cover dated 6th September 1930 . Skipper was the fourth of five storypapers published by DC Thomson in the 1920s to about 1960. Sitting alongside Rover, Adventure, Hotspur and Wizard, they were known as the “Big Five”.

This Phil-Comics current auction offers the first 17 issues of Skipper which made up the first year of 1930 (September – December).

The Bullseye storypaper #76-102 (1932) July – December Publisher File Copies Bound Volume. Published by The Amalgamated Press, this volume once formed part of their archive of bound volumes used as file copies. This contains The Bullseye storypaper No. 76 (2/7/32) to No. 102 (31/12/32 – Christmas issue) inclusive.

*Tracy No. 1, cover dated 6th October 1979 With Free Gift Korky the Cat Badge*

TV Century 21 Comic Special Agent Metal Badge 1960s. Scarce – they don’t turn up very often. Phil-Comics have only sold one of these in the past, around three years ago.
It wasn’t a free gift but rather there was a form inside the comic and you sent off for it, and although 2/6d may seem cheap now, it was a small fortune for many readers back then!

*Victor No. 362, cover dated 27th January 1968 With rare Free Gift Cup-Tie Diary*

*Warlord No. 1 and 2 – Sep/October 1979 With Free Gift Holder and Golden Replica Medals*

Head to ebay.co.uk/str/philcomics for the full catalogue

The auction end on Sunday 19th May 2024

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.