eBay comic auctioneers Phil-Comics final sale of the year is running now, closing this Sunday (12th December) – and includes a bumper range of British and American publications and ephemera – some 550 items in all – some of them quite rare, some unique.
Here are just a few highlights, including a few of the many comics offered with their Free Gifts…
“This is one of the rarest items we’ve sold,” says Phil. “Apart from one or two similar items (owned by DC Thomson) and displayed in a Beano exhibition a couple of years ago, we’ve not seen any others apart from around ten or so that appeared on the market around 12 months ago.
“This one came from that small (almost certainly a one-off) stash, in which we were told a former employee of DC Thomson, who was selling them, ‘acquired’ them decades ago whilst they worked for the publishing giant Thomson.
“The item is small, measuring approx 2.5 x 1.5 inches and weigh 100g (quite a weight for a small item). I’m not sure what metal it is but it’s solid and no doubt the rarity of these stems from the fact that they were produced for that week’s printing and then melted down to be re-used (and of course never meant to leave the premises in someone’s pocket).
“This one shows the cover of the 1962 Bunty Book and would have been used as the printing plate for a small advert in the weekly Bunty, or another DC Thomson publication, promoting the annual. The detail is superb. A couple of very small dents but otherwise in nice shape.”
Run by Phil Shrimpton, Phil-Comics specialises in vintage comics and related items such as annuals, holiday specials, free gifts and original artwork.
Holding monthly eBay auctions, often with 500+ listings, they aim to bring a diverse array of items – and are always on the lookout for vintage comic collections, either to buy or auction on commission.
• Check out the latest auction items at ebay.co.uk/str/philcomics
• Bidding on items in this auction begins to close on Sunday 12th December 2021
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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: Auctions, British Comics, Comics, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds
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