Ken Reid, Reg Parlett art and plenty of “Free Gift” comics dominate latest Phil-Comics auction

By John Freeman on November 29, 2024

The current Phil-Comics eBay auction, closing on Sunday (1st December), includes a more classic British comics With Free Gift included – and some great comic art, too.

Run by Phil Shrimpton, the award-winning Phil-Comics specialises in vintage comics and related items such as annuals, holiday specials, American comics, free gifts and original artwork. This issue also includes a lot of Nintendo-focused game memorabilia.

Here are some of the auction highlights – check out the full catalogue here on eBay

*Nutty No. 1 cover dated 16th February 1980, With Free Gift*

Nutty No. 194 cover dated 29th October 1983, With Free Gift - a Bananaman poster — *Nutty No. 194 cover dated 29th October 1983, With Free Gift – a Bananaman poster*

*Mandy No. 927, cover dated 20th October 1967, With Free Gift*

*Rover and Wizard Story Paper, cover dated 7th November 1964, With Free Gift*

There are several annuals on offer, too…

Fireball XL5 Annual 1964 — Dennis the Menace Book 1962

Giles Annual No. 3, featuring cartoons from 1948 - 1949 — Giles Annual No. 3, featuring cartoons from 1948 – 1949

Plus, several original artworks – some re-offered from earlier auctions, including…

"Nigel" art by Artie Jackson, published in the Daily Express in the 1950s. Artie Jackson - who signed himself ‘Artie’ - In the 1950s he contributed Nigel to the Daily Express and was the author of "Doglover", a single-column topical cartoon, also for the Daily Express, in 1961-1962. — “Nigel” art by Artie Jackson, published in the Daily Express in the 1950s. Artie Jackson – who signed himself ‘Artie’ – contributed “Nigel” to the Daily Express in the 1950s, and was the author of “Doglover”, a single-column topical cartoon, also for the Daily Express, in 1961-1962.

Original artwork for the "Scott Lanyard" strip which was published in the Daily Sketch c irca 1955 - 1956. Hugh McCleland was a cartoonist who headed the cartoon department of the Daily Mirror in the UK. His wild West comic strip "Beelzebub Jones" debuted in the paper in 1937. After taking over as cartoon chief at the Mirror in 1945, he dropped "Beelzebub Jones" and moved on to a variety of new strips, including "Dan Doofer", "Sunshine Falls" and "Jimpy". In 1952, he exited the Mirror for the tabloid Daily Sketch. He drew "Pip Squeak and Wilfred" until 1956, when he left the UK and emigrated with his family to Canada. He launched his final strip, "Jimmy Gimmicks", in 1957, but it last only two months. — Original artwork for the “Scott Lanyard” strip which was published in the Daily Sketch c irca 1955 – 1956. Hugh McCleland was a cartoonist who headed the cartoon department of the Daily Mirror in the UK. His wild West comic strip “Beelzebub Jones” debuted in the paper in 1937. After taking over as cartoon chief at the Mirror in 1945, he dropped “Beelzebub Jones” and moved on to a variety of new strips, including “Dan Doofer”, “Sunshine Falls” and “Jimpy”. In 1952, he exited the Mirror for the tabloid Daily Sketch. He drew “Pip Squeak and Wilfred” until 1956, when he left the UK and emigrated with his family to Canada. He launched his final strip, “Jimmy Gimmicks”, in 1957, but it last only two months.

An episode of the humour strip, "Temps" by Frank Dickens, who's perhaps better known for his "Bristow" strip — *An episode of the humour strip, “Temps” by Frank Dickens, who’s perhaps better known for his “Bristow” strip*

"Faceache" art credited to Ken Reid, for Buster. Date of publication unknown — *“Faceache” art credited to Ken Reid, for Buster. Date of publication unknown*

"Billy Bunter" original art by Reg Partlett , for Valiant, first published in the issue cover dated 2nd July 1966 — *“Billy Bunter” original art by Reg Partlett, for Valiant, first published in the issue cover dated 2nd July 1966*

*Mickey Mouse Summer Special 1980 cover art, artist unidentified*

"Scream Inn" original Artwork by Brian Walker for the souvenir book for an early British comics convention that took place in March 1976. Drawn and signed by the artist, the single sheet of paper measures 9 x 6 inches — “Scream Inn” original Artwork by Brian Walker for the souvenir book for an early British comics convention that took place in March 1976. Drawn and signed by the artist, the single sheet of paper measures 9 x 6 inches

Wham! comic original comic artwork for "Georgie's Germs". The strip was originally the creation of Leo Baxendale, but although he drew the earlier strips but this isn't his work. Two reliable sources suggest that this is very likely the work of veteran cartoonist Cyril Price, who worked on a lot of the old 1940s comics and also drew many strips for Wham — Wham! comic original comic artwork for “Georgie’s Germs”. The strip was originally the creation of Leo Baxendale, but although he drew the earlier strips but this isn’t his work. Two reliable sources suggest that this is very likely the work of veteran cartoonist Cyril Price, who worked on a lot of the old 1940s comics and also drew many strips for Wham!

*Art for Our Army At War #230 (1971) by Russ Heath*

• Check out the full catalogue here on eBay – bidding begins to draw to a close on Sunday 1st December 2024 – god luck if you bid!

About the Author
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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.