More 1980s “Strontium Dog” by Kev Walker offered on Catawiki

By John Freeman on June 1, 2022

This week’s Catawiki International Comic Art Auction, which closes this Thursday, 2nd June 2022, again features a page of Strontium Dog from Kev Walker.

The Strontium Dog page by Kev first featured in the 2000AD Winter Special 1988.

Check out the full catalogue here

Also in this week’s auction…

Original Hulk vs Thor book art by Eduardo Alpuente

A page from the Robot Archie story, “Bodyguard to the Menaced Rajan”, first featured in Lion in 1958, art by Ted Kearon

Carlos Pacheco’s original drawing for the cover of Marvel’s Conan – Serpent War 2, published in 2019

A beautiful “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” illustration by René Follet, a scene from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Three illustrations for Journal Tintin by Gérald Forton

A smashing design of his western character, Duke, by Hermann

A western book cover, by Manfred Somer

An original design for the Asterix story, “Oumpah-Pah et les pirates”, by Marcel Uderzo

• This week’s Catawiki International Comic Art Auction closes this Thursday, 2nd June 2022, at 7.00pm – check out the full catalogue here

Potential Additional International Auction Costs

This advice box was last updated on Friday 6th May 2022

The UK’s departure from the European Union means there may be additional import duties on sales.

Prior to Brexit, the effective rate of UK tax on imports of art was 5%, which is lower than most other European countries. An owner could previously import an artwork to the UK from outside the EU and was then free to transport it to other EU countries, where the import tax rates may be higher, without incurring any further import-related tax charges. If the owner then wished to bring the artwork back to the UK, there would also have been no further tax charge.

The Guardian previously reported that online orders up to £135 are now supposed to have the UK’s prevailing VAT rate added at the point of sale by the EU retailer, which has to have registered with HM Revenue & Customs.

While buying from European sellers carries the sting of larger costs, the auction house Catawiki does now endeavour to provide an estimate of those in its lot descriptions.

Unfortunately, many smaller EU-based retailers have decided that the paperwork of collecting UK VAT is not worth the hassle and as a result will no longer supply UK consumers. It has also meant that some British sellers will no longer export to Europe.

This apolitical guide outlines what you should be aware of when buying or selling art internationally but is a work in progress

• Don’t forget Catawiki runs several regular auctions, including a dedicated US Comics auction, too – check out all the current lots on offer here

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.