Rare “Trigan Empire” record, complete set of VULCAN on offer this week on Catawiki auction site

While just two items of direct interest to British comic art collectors feature in this week’s Catawiki International Comic Art Auction, which closes this Thursday, 19th May 2022, beyond that weekly event is a Don Lawrence curiosity of note, and other items…

On offer in the Catawiki International Comic Art Auction this week is a page from the 1967 Trigan Empire story “Revolution in Zabriz, first published in 1967 in Look and Learn, written by Mike Butterworth with art by Don Lawrence.

Trigan Empire - "Revolution in Zabriz" (1967) - art by Don Lawrence
Trigan Empire - "Revolution in Zabriz"  (1967) - art by Don Lawrence

In a separate Catawiki auction, I came across a curious LP, “Eppo presenteert: Trigië – hoorspel” released in Dutch in 1976, signed by Don Lawrence, adapting two Trian Empire stories for audio. It features music Popgroep Holland, who also worked on a similar Princess magazine-inspired LP, released the same year.

Don Lawrence - Eppo presenteert: Trigië - hoorspel - gesigneerd - LP - (1976)

Back at the weekly auction, you may also want to check out another episode of Modesty Blaise, drawn by Enrique Badia Romero, offered at auction by the artist himself.

Modesty Blaise 8454A by Romero

Or, you may want to ferret though the US Comics & Original Comic Art Auction, where an Italian seller is offering 58 issues of weekly British anthology comic, VULCAN, encompassing its initial run published in Scotland, and its further run as a national title. Postage on top of the lot is cited as £30 to the UK, but bear in mind there may be customs duty to pay on top. It might still be had at a bargain price compared with buying individual copies on eBay!

  • VULCAN (1975 - 76) - Issue 1 - 58
  • VULCAN (1975 - 76) - Issue 1 - 58
  • VULCAN (1975 - 76) - Issue 1 - 58
  • VULCAN (1975 - 76) - Issue 1 - 58
  • VULCAN (1975 - 76) - Issue 1 - 58
  • VULCAN (1975 - 76) - Issue 1 - 58
  • VULCAN (1975 - 76) - Issue 1 - 58
  • VULCAN (1975 - 76) - Issue 1 - 58
  • VULCAN (1975 - 76) - Issue 1 - 58
  • VULCAN (1975 - 76) - Issue 1 - 58
  • VULCAN (1975 - 76) - Issue 1 - 58

The project was co-published by Fleetway and Swiss publisher Gevacur from 1975 to 1976, the sister, European title KOBRA, both launched in February 1975 on the same day. KOBRA had a much longer run than VULCAN, both titles printed in Germany.

The same auction also includes a collection of the “Garth – Daily Strips” books published under license by the All Devon Comic Collectors Club – 42 booklets and The Index (Titles Artists Writers Story Codes, etc).

ADCCC was a small membership club with permission to publish Garth stories by Mirror Group, ADCCC was restricted in only passing these to members only.

Collection of the “Garth - Daily Strips” books published under license by the All Devon Comic Collectors Club

Check out all the lots in this week’s Catawiki International Comic Art Auction, ending 7.00pm on Thursday 19th May 2022, 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



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