Rare 1930s Beano promotional flyer offered in latest Phil-Comics eBay auction

By John Freeman on September 17, 2020

Among the 125 items in the latest Phil-Comics auction on eBay, which includes some great British comic lots, is a very rare Beano comic Number One pull-out promotional flyer.

“This has been in our collection for many years and now it’s time to sell,” says Phil Shrimpton.

“A rare flyer that was issued as a pull-out in, we believe, one of DC Thomson’s story papers of the day, such as Hotspur, Wizard, Skipper and Rover.

“It appeared in mid to late July in preparation for the comics launch on Tuesday 26th July (cover dated Saturday 30th July). These papers were aimed at older readers, so the printed section ‘Please hand this comic to the youngsters’ was meant for the younger brothers and sisters. It promotes the characters in the new comic and the giveaways due to be given with the first two issues.”

The flyer was designed to be folded up and made into a mini eight-page comic. This rare item is as issued and unfolded, and, as you’d expect, is already attracting attention among Beano fans – a fine example of a rare item promoting one of Britain’s best loved comics that’s still published today, 82 years on.

Also on offer, alongside some great comics and annuals is a smashing page of “Scream Inn” art for Shiver & Shake by the recently-passed Brian Walker, and a page of “Hire a Horror” for Cor! by the brilliant Reg Parlett.

• Check out the latest auction items at ebay.co.uk/str/philcomics

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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.