There’s still time to bid on a page from the original “Dan Dare” Eagle story “The Red Moon Mystery”, offered in the latest Catawiki International Original Comics Art Auction – and much more besides.

Credited to Frank Hampson, although others worked on the strip, the “Red Moon Mystery” page on offer in the auction, which closes tomorrow, Thursday 8th December, was first published in Eagle in 1951.

In the story, written by Dan Dare’s creator, Frank Hampson and George Beardmore, drawn by Hampson, Harold Johns and Greta Tomlinson, the Earth is approached by a gigantic meteor. It’s inhabited and controlled by strange bee-like creatures intent on stripping the world of all its vegetation. Dan and company eventually manage to lure it away from Earth and destroy it in deep space, but in so doing they are sent shooting out of control towards Mercury.

The strip has been reprinted several times, including in cut down form in the 1974 Dan Dare annual, and in Hawk Books and Titan Books collections, as well as overseas, in the comic, Arend.

Alongside some terrific examples of European comic art, including a “Torpedo” illustration by Jordi Bernet, and some striking strip art work by artists including Gerald Forton and Dick Matena, two more “Robot Archie” pages drawn by Ted Kearon, first published in Lion, also feature in this week’s auction.

The first is from the story, “Bodyguard to the Rajah”, published in November 1959, the second another page from “Mystery of the Giant Bats”, published in March 1967.

If you’re a fan of European adventure and SF comics, let us also direct you to a piece of glorious homage art on offer in this auction by Christian Jacot – a tribute to the classics of comics featuring characters created by Mézières, Leloup, Franquin, Walthery, Dany, and Hergé. Great fun!

• This week’s Catawiki International Original Comics Art Auction, closing at 7.00pm on Thursday 8th December 2022 – view the full catalogue here

Dan Dare Web Links

• Check out the downthetubes Dan Dare guide – a potted history of the strips, spin-offs (made and unmade), merchandise and more

• Read our list of currently available Dan Dare collections

• Dan Dare collections and related books on AmazonUK (downthetubes Affiliate Link)

• Read our checklist of Dan Dare comic stories published to date, compiled by John Freeman, Jeremy Briggs, Richard Sheaf and Steve Winders (Google Doc, further information always welcome)

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.

Categories: Art and Illustration, Auctions, British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds

Tags: Catawiki International Original Comics Art Auction, Christian Jacot, Dan Dare, downthetubes News, Eagle, Frank Hampson, Jordi Bernet, Lion, Robot Archie, SF Comics, Ted Kearon