Frank Hampson “Dan Dare” inspired rarity surfaces at Italian auction house

By John Freeman on 28 March 2019

Italian auction house Urania is hosting a sale of original comic art and illustration in Parma on 11th May 2019 – and it includes a number of items by British artists including a Dan Dare-inspired artwork by Frank Hampson, alongside art by John Bolton, Greg Staples, Sydney Jordan and others.

"Satellite Control" - cover art by Frank Hampson for Grande Enciclopedia della Fantascienza N.54, published by Editoriale Del Drago in 1981 — *“Satellite Control” – cover art by Frank Hampson for Grande Enciclopedia della Fantascienza N.54, published by Editoriale Del Drago in 1981*

*Dan Dare Science Museum Mural by Frank Hampson, created in the 1970s*

On offer by Frank Hampson is a signed piece of art titled “Satellite Control”, and original cover done created for booklet No. 54 of Grande Enciclopedia della Fantascienza, published by Editoriale Del Drago in 1981.

While there is no mention of Dan Dare in the lot description, the art looks like it’s based on one of the murals he created for London’s Science Museum in the 1970s, last seen in 2008, as part of a major exhibition that made use of the Eagle hero to showcase the scientific developments of the 1950s.

The Science Museum commissioned two mural paintings from by Frank Hampson in 1977, panels of “Dan Dare” characters and machines with extra-terrestrial backgrounds.

There is a feature on the 2008 exhibition here on the official Frank Hampson web site and Eagle Times featured information on the exhibition here.

The auction is still in the “collecting phase” so items may yet be added to it. Here are just some of the items also on offer… There are many, many terrific pieces from European and US publications, too, including pages from The Losers and Black Panther art by Jack Kirby.

Preliminary study done by John Bolton for the cover of the "Batman: Manbat" collection of the namesake miniseries, published by DC in 1997 — *Preliminary study done by John Bolton for the cover of the “Batman: Manbat” collection of the namesake miniseries, published by DC in 1997*

*An original cover by Greg Staples for the 2008 Christmas edition of Judge Dredd Magazine (Issue 279), published by Rebellion*

Daily strip H 2452 for the Jeff Hawke story "Immortal Toys", signed at the back by Sydney Jordan — *Daily strip H 2452 for the Jeff Hawke story “Immortal Toys”, signed at the back by Sydney Jordan*

"Billy the Kid" strip by Don Lawrence, published in Sun cover dated 20th December 1959 — *“Billy the Kid” strip by Don Lawrence, published in Sun cover dated 20th December 1959*

A page from "Bait for a Traitor" drawn by Solano Lopez, an adventure which appeared in a 1967 issue of Fleetway Super Library — *A page from “Bait for a Traitor” drawn by Solano Lopez, an adventure which appeared in a 1967 issue of Fleetway Super Library*

Just one of many stunning pieces of European art in the Urania auction in May 2019. This is an original cover by Mario Tempesti for Charles Williams novel "L’assassino Guarda il Fiume", published in the I Gialli Longanesi series n. 87 by Longanesi publishing house in 1973 — Just one of many stunning pieces of European art in the Urania auction in May 2019. This is an original cover by Mario Tempesti for Charles Williams novel “L’assassino Guarda il Fiume”, published in the I Gialli Longanesi series n. 87 by Longanesi publishing house in 1973

The Urania Auction House is online at www.uraniaaste.com | View the auction lots here on Live Auctioneers

Physical Viewing: Reading Club – Via Melloni, 4 | Parma (Italy) Friday 10 May – from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM – Auction Location: Reading Club – Via Melloni, 4 | Parma (Italy) Saturday 11 May – from 11:30 AM – Auction timing: from lot 1 to 84 – 11.30 AM (ROME TIME) from lot 85 to 509 – 14.00 AM (ROME TIME)

With thanks to David Roach – and Jonathan Wilson for first finding this

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John Freeman

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.