The latest Comic Book Postal Auction (aka the Compal Auction) is up and running now, the September 2026 catalogue dominated by a lots that include bundles Number One comics from the 1970s and 1980s With Free Gifts; plus Marvelman creator Mick Anglo‘s first professionally published comic strip, and art by Ron Turner, including a “The Daleks” page for Doctor Who Magazine, John Michael Burns – and more stunning “Charley’s War” art by Joe Colquhoun, originally created for Battle-Action.
The UK section starts with Comic Cuts Christmas issues from 1911-1917, mixed story paper Coronation, Jubilee and Special Edition Numbers from 1911-1940 and Hotspur 1-11 including Number One’s free gift, the elusive Black Cloth Mask.
The outstanding item from this period is Playbox No. 296, published in 1930, which is accompanied by its unique free gift Mickey Mouse toy, still in working order and as rare as Donald Duck’s teeth.
(Click pictures for larger images throughout)
Playbox 296 (1930) With Free Gift Mickey Mouse Toy. The only free gift known to exist accompanying this comic is in working order
Comic Cuts Xmas issues (1911-1917)
Early The Beano and The Dandy full years from the 1940s and 50s are also here along with some of their high-grade Monster Comics and Annuals.
=Beano 78, cover dated 20th January 1940, propaganda war issue. “Wild Boy of the Woods” is condemned as a British spy and Frosty McNab freezes a U-Boat! plus Dandy Monster Comic book (1946) featuring Desperate Dan, Korky, Hungry Horace, Keyhole Kate and Freddy the Fearless Fly
Walt Disney’s Weekly from 1959 includes an enviable selection of free gifts: No 1 with Zorro’s Hat, No 2 with Zorro’s Mask, No 3 with his Pistol and No.4 with his Code Wheel.
Walt Disney’s Weekly No 1, cover dated 26th January 1959) With Free Gift, Zorro’s Hat (very few examples known to exist)
Walt Disney’s Weekly No 2, cover dated 1st February 1959, With Free Gift Zorro Mask
Walt Disney’s Weekly No 3, cover dated 9th February 1959) With Free Gift Zorro Pistol (lacking disc bullets)
Walt Disney’s Weekly No 4, cover dated 16th February 1959, With Free Gift Zorro Code Wheel
Walt Disney’s Weekly (1960-61). Complete year of 1960 plus first 17 issues of 1961 (including cover dated April 24th final issue). Including free gifts: My Summer Picture Book of Walt Disney’s Wonderland with all 6 colour pictures (loose) and 2 Name Game 12 Character uncut sheets (including Harold Hare, whose comic took over from Walt Disney Weekly on 3 May 1961) (69 issues)
Malcolm Phillips at Comic Book Postal Auctions advises the comics are in fine/very fine grades and, as for those free gifts, “Well, in 30 plus years of our business we’ve never seen them offered together before!” he enthuses.
The 1960s and 70s are dominated by full runs of Buster, Huckleberry Hound, Knockout, Lion, Tiger, Topper and Victor, with Girl Power satisfied by Bunty, June, Mandy, Romeo, Sally and Tammy.
1970s No 1s plus, many With Free Gifts1980s No 1s plus, many With Free Gifts, offered over two lotsSuperhero 80s No 1s most With Free Gifts
Captain Britain No. 1 With Free Gift Mask, No. 2 With Free Gift Boomerang (1976), with Star Wars No 1 (1978) and Titan Comics Star Wars Comic No 1 (1999) With Free Gift Stickers
Topper (1966) 674-726. Complete year with Topper Book 1966
Collectable Girls Comics
Bunty (1972) 729-781. Near complete year (missing 747, 776-778). No 766 wfg Bunty Fairy Ring, No 767 wfg Bunty Blue Necklace. With Bunty’s back cover Cut-Out wardrobe (all intact) and Bunty Summer Special 1969June and School Friend (cover dated 3rd July – 25th December 1971). 26 issues in half-year bound volume. Glory Knight – Time Traveller, Wild Girl, Slaves of the Special One, Angela Barrie’s Fashion Page and Lulu’s Fashion Contest. From the IPC Editorial ArchiveMandy (1972) 259-311. Complete year. With Mandy Annual 1972
Marvelman creator Mick Anglo’s first pro Comic Strip
“Laugh with SEAC” ive page original artwork war story (1945) drawn and (each page) signed by Mick Anglo for ‘Laugh with SEAC’ (South-East Asia Command) newspaper of the British Army. This is Mick Anglo’s first published work
The artwork selection again takes centre stage in this regular auction. “Laugh with S.E.A.C.” was the jokes and cartoon section of the British Army’s South-East Asia Command newspaper during World War Two. It’s Mick Anglo’s first ever artwork, which was published whilst he served there, and his five-page illustrated story is offered, each page signed.
Mick’s later 1940s creations included Wonderman (John Justice) his first super-hero character and The Tornado (Steve Storm) for Paget Comics where he was the editor. However, his greatest work was yet to come as he revamped the U.S. Captain Marvel comics for the UK market by creating Marvelman, Young Marvelman and The Marvelman Family. (Maurice Anglo Witz 1916-2011).
There is a further strong artwork run of Ron Turner’s space and science-fiction pieces from 1959-61 along with two of his 2000AD boards for early episodes of “Judge Dredd” and “Tharg’s Future Shocks“; finishing with one of the last pieces he ever illustrated, an episode of the full colour Daleks story, “Deadline To Doomsday“, commissioned for Doctor Who Magazine as a follow-up to the hugely successful “The Daleks” strip in early issues of TV Century 21.
‘Deadline to Doomsday’ original Daleks artwork (1998) by Ron Turner for the follow-up to the hugely successful ‘Daleks Chronicles’, published in Doctor Who MagazineJudge Dredd original artwork by Ron Turner (1977) for 2000AD prog 16, with original comic. Rebel robot leader ‘Call-Me-Kenneth’ is downed by a crashing blow…‘Tharg’s Future Shocks’: two original artworks by Ron Turner (1977) from 2000AD prog 30 with original comic‘Tharg’s Future Shocks’: two original artworks by Ron Turner (1977) from 2000AD prog 30 with original comic‘Tharg’s Future Shocks’: two original artworks by Ron Turner (1977) from 2000AD prog 30 with original comicAbove: Johnny Red art by Ron Turner (1984) for Battle Holiday Special 1984Nebula-X re-creation artwork (1989) by Ron Turner from the Scion 1950 novel cover written by Vargo Statten‘The Attack on Moon Base One’ original artwork (1984) drawn and signed by Ron Turner – a Matchbox toy tie-in promotion?Space Ace and the Colossus of Rhodes, four original artworks by Ron Turner (1961) for Space Ace No 8Above: Space Ace and the Scourge from Zombara: two original artworks by Ron Turner (1959) for Lone Star Vol. 6, No 2
There are more “Charley’s War” by Joe Colquhoun in the mix too, first pubished in Battle-Action, some episodes on offer key moments in the story – and still as startling today as they were when first seen.
Above: Charley’s War (1979) 2 original artworks and 1 photocopy artwork (completing the episode) by Joe Colquohoun for Battle-Action No 242Charley’s War (1979): four original artworks by Joe Colquhoun with script by Pat Mills for Battle 304Charley’s War (1979): four original artworks by Joe Colquhoun with script by Pat Mills for Battle 304Above: Charley’s War (1979): Three original artworks by Joe Colquhoun with script by Pat Mills for Battle No 613
Also in this auction are two boards for TV Comic‘s Doctor Who strip by Gerry Haylock, reworked pages that see the Forth Doctor replacing the original Third. Robert Forrest drew “The Picture of Dorian Gray” for Thriller Comic Library in 1956 and three of his pages are also here.
Plus, Keith Watson’s prestigious talent is strongly represented with two magnificent “Dan Dare” first published in 1962.
Doctor Who: two original consecutive artworks for TV Comic No 1395 (1978). Originally drawn by Gerry Haylock as a Third Doctor Who adventure, the boards were retouched and altered by John Canning to feature the face of the Fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker. Black ink and wash on board. 20 x 16 ins (2 artworks)
‘A Wild Ride’ original artwork drawn, painted and signed to the protection sheet by Derek Eyles (Date unverified, but possibly a pre-war artwork for a ‘Chums’ style annual). Gouache on board. 17. x 13 ins
Six original front cover artworks from the Alan Austin Archive (1970s) created for his fanzines: Fantasy Unlimited and Comics Unlimited. They include The Spirit drawn and signed by Rafa Gonzales, Donald Duck/Uncle Scrooge and Incredible Hulk (1975) both drawn by Antonio Ghura, The Executioner (1976) drawn and initialled by Russ Nicholson, Mickey Mouse (1972) drawn and signed by Peter Parkin and Mr Spock (1975) drawn and signed by Jean-Daniel Breque.Proceeds to Kidney Cancer UK
‘Dan Dare and the Evil One’: two original artworks (1962) by Keith Watson (board 1 signed) for The Eagle Vol. 13. Black paint and wash on board. 21 x 15 ins
Billy Bunter original Fireworks artwork by Reg Parlett for Billy Bunter’s Knockout No 1184 Firework issue, cover dated 4th November 1961. Black paint with Letraset on cartridge paper. 22 x 17 ins
Ken Dodd’s Diddymen original cover artwork (1968) by Bill Titcombe for TV Comic No 897 front cover. Ken Dodd launches the good ship, Knotty Ash… Poster colour on board. 14 x 15 ins
The Three Musketeers: two original colour artworks by Ruggero Giovannini (1967) for Look & Learn, July 7th and September 16th 1967. Poster colour on cartridge paper. 19 x 14 ins (2 artworks)
‘Five Guilty Men’ original cover artwork by Reginald Heade for Sexton Blake Library No 316 (1954). Watercolour on board. 18 x 13 ins
Space Ace No 7 original artwork of ‘The Gift’ science-fiction story pg.13 by Pat Williams (Eagle and TV Comic illustrator of The Avengers and Adam Adamant). With original comic (1961). Pen and ink on board. 15 x 10 ins
Mission Impossible original artwork by John M. Burns for TV Action No 114. Black paint and wash on board. 21 x 16 ins
The US Golden Age section has a good selection of No 1 and early issues including Dead-Eye Western, Lance O’Casey, Mr District Attorney, Blazing Six-Guns!, Boy Detective, Sparkling Love and Tor, with early runs of All American Men of War and Our Army at War.
There’s a strong Marvel Silver Age selection, too, including Avengers #1-4, X-Men #1-3 and 5-7 with long runs of Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Hulk, Iron Man, Tales of Suspense and Tales to Astonish. DC titles are well represented with ActionComics, Batman, Detective Comics and Showcase, along with Gold Key’s Magnus Robot Fighter, M.A.R.S. Patrol and Total War 1 & 2.
All postal bids need to be with us by Friday 11th September and Compal will enter them on your behalf in thesaleroom.com/Comic Book Auctions website, closing Sunday 13th September from 2.00pm.
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.
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