Home›Comics›British Comics›2000AD›Full early TV Century 21 collection among star lots on latest Compal Comic Auction, plus 2000AD art by Cam Kennedy and more
Full early TV Century 21 collection among star lots on latest Compal Comic Auction, plus 2000AD art by Cam Kennedy and more
Compal has just released its August 2021 sales catalogue, and as ever, there’s a massive range of items on offer, ranging from a Very Fine edition of Boy’s Own Annual from 1899, including all 26 episodes of “An Antarctic Mystery” by Jules Verne, through to early Beano comics, and art from creators such as Frank Bellamy (with several “Garth” strips on offer), Mike Lacy, George Wakefield, and 2000AD‘s Ron Smith, Cam Kennedy and Carlos Ezquerra.
There are a number of comic convention sketches on offer too, by artists including Alan Davis, Mike Kaluta and Jeff Smith.
Realtime bids can be made at The Saleroom and you can also fill out a fax or mail bidding form on the web site of the London-based auction house.
Lots include a the issues of Detective Weekly published in 1935, featuring Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express”, the first issue of the original The Hotspur, published in 1933, and by Scoops No 1, “The UK’s First Science Fiction Weekly”. – and there are a number of 1930s and 40s comics with free gifts on offer, too.
Early Beanos include Nos 34, 40, 56, 78, 83, 89, 108 and the famous wartime No 135 with the top cover strapline “Look inside and see Lord Snooty Jape the Nazis!”. The Dandy is also in on the act with No 137 from 1940, accompanying its original artwork piece of Addie and Hermy by Sam Fair, along with Dandy Christmas issues from 1945-49.
The 1950s are well represented by a whole bunch of free gifts with their original comics, the pick of which must be Top Spot No1 with its Glow Spot Tie Clip. The Beano has complete years of 1958 and ’59 and The Dandy’s into the 1960s with complete years of 1963, ’64 and ’65. Fantastic, (It’s) Terrific, Valiant and Wham! early issues are all here with their free gifts, (some really hard to find) especially Fantastic No 2’s Stick-On Scars, Terriific No 2’s Iron Man’s Missile Launcher, Wham No 15’s Whampire Bat and Solo No 1 with its Amazing Solar Saucer.
However the pick of the 1960s has to be a complete set of TV Century 21 Nos 1-141 offered mostly in high grades, with the gifts for 1 and 2 along with The Thunderbirds are Go Special from 1966. The collection is expected to sell for anything between £1800 and £2300 – I expect it may well be higher.
From the 1970s, though we also get Star Wars Weekly No 1 from Marvel UK, published in 1978, with its fee gift – push-out Star Wars X-Fighter.
Comic Art
There is plenty of art in this auction to savour, including art by Frank Bellamy, Bertie Brown, Sam Fair, Robert McGillavray, Dicky Howett, Hugh Morren, Steve Sampson, and George Wakefield.
Plus, are some strong artwork contenders from 2000AD including the prog 304 double-page spread and prog 307 back cover, both by Ron Smith, “Rogue Trooper” by Cam Kennedy and “Judge Dredd” by Carlos Ezquerra.
The US Golden Age selection contains three beauties: Comedy Comics #1, Shield-Wizard #1, both CGC encased, with Superman #33 in [fn-].
The Silver Age highlights cents copies of Fantastic Four #3 and #48, early Journey Into Mystery, Batman and Green Lantern #1 with some mouth-watering later years artwork and sketches by Barry Windsor-Smith, Bill Ward, Mike Kaluta and Howard Chaykin.
The auction closes on Sunday 29th August 2021 from 2.00 pm.
• The Compal August 2021 catalogue is open for bidding now. You can place realtime bids at The-Saleroom. You can also browse lots here and fill out a fax or mail bidding form
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.