The Esoteric, The Weird and The Beautiful: Vintage British and American fanzines, including early work by Alan Moore, offered at auction

London-based auction and retail company Ancient Mariner Auctions has launched an online auction of a wide range of British and American comic, SF and fantasy roleplaying related fanzines and ephemera, including an item featuring the earliest work of author Alan Moore, and a copy of zine signed by Kirk Alyn, the first actor to play Superman.

The auction closes at end of this month, and the auction is being run through The-Saleroom.

A huge range of items, including fanzines, early British comic convention ephemera and programmes, American comic zines, some rare American comics, roleplaying game materials and more is included in the auction, including issues of well-known fanzines such as Fantasy Advertiser and Fantasy Trader, and rarer items, such as Utopia/ Valhalla #1, published in the U.K. in 1970, described as a “very rare double fanzine” that features the first published work of author Alan Moore, an article on H.P. Lovecraft.

Utopia/Valhalla #1 Cover (1970) - zine featuring first published work of Alan Moore
Utopia/Valhalla #1 Cover (1970) - zine featuring first published work of Alan Moore

According to the lot description, only one issue of this zine was ever released and a total of thirty were distributed. As you can imagine, the estimated final sale price is high, at between £500 and £700. This is much less than the eye-watering price set by an eBay seller back in 2017 of £2700, which did not meet its reserve.

Here are just a few of the other rare items on offer. Also on offer is a copy of  KA-POW #2, a title that’s possibly Britain’s first comics fanzine, which we’ve previously featured here on downthetubes.

The auction close 31st May 2023 and you can view the entire catalogue here at The-Saleroom.

If you want to check out online read-only digital editions of some of the British fanzines featured in this incredible auction, head to FANSCENE, curated by David Hathaway-Price, where many of them can be found, uploaded with the permission of the original editors/ publishers.

#1 and 2 of the American fanzine, Anomaly, published during the 1960s. They feature material by Harlan Ellison
#1 and 2 of the American fanzine, Anomaly, published during the 1960s. They feature material by Harlan Ellison
The very first British Comics Convention Booklet, published in 1968, documenting the beginning of organised fandom events in the UK
The very first British Comics Convention Booklet, published in 1968, documenting the beginning of organised fandom events in the UK. Cover by Jim Baikie
A pair of Frank Frazetta-themed Captain George fanzines released in the United States in the 1960s
A pair of Frank Frazetta-themed Captain George fanzines released in the United States in the 1960s
Captain George's Comic World #27, and American fanzine published in 1970 and signed on the front cover by Kirk Alyn, the original Superman actor
Captain George’s Comic World #27, and American fanzine published in 1970 and signed on the front cover by Kirk Alyn, the original Superman actor
British Comic Media Fanzines published in the 1970s
British Comic Media Fanzines published in the 1970s, edited by Richard Burton. Check out digital editions of this ‘zine on FANSCENE
Issues of the 1960s comic fanzine Eureka
Issues of the 1960s comic fanzine Eureka | Check out digital editions of this ‘zine on FANSCENE
FOOM #20, the fan magazine published by Marvel
FOOM #20, the fan magazine published by Marvel
A number of the rare fanzine Marvel Mirror, published in the 1960s. (The auction description doesn't indicate if this is an American or British fanzine)
A number of the rare fanzine Marvel Mirror, published in the 1960s. (The auction description doesn’t indicate if this is an American or British fanzine)
Sector, a British fanzine published in 1971
Sector, a British fanzine published in 1971, edited by Mike Cruden. Check out digital editions of this ‘zine on FANSCENE
Sector, a British fanzine published in 1971
Sector, a British fanzine published in 1971, edited by Mike Cruden. Check out digital editions of this ‘zine on FANSCENE
UNICORN #1 -5, a fantasy and comic book fanzines edited by Phil Clarke and Mike Higgs with beautiful covers. A complete set of early British fanzines.
UNICORN #1 -5, a fantasy and comic book fanzines edited by Phil Clarke and Mike Higgs with beautiful covers. A complete set of early British fanzines. Check out digital versions of this ‘zine on FANSCENE
Vampirella #1 (Warren Comics)
Vampirella #1 (Warren Comics)
Warrior #1, published in 1974, Dez Skinn's first take on the 'Warrior' brand, featuring reprints of "Wrath of the Gods", art by John M. Burns, "Kelpie - Boy Wizard" art by John M Burns, "Erik the Viking", art by Don Lawrence, "Heros the Spartan", art by Frank Bellamy, "Olac the Gladiator", art by Don Lawrence, and "Black Axe - Saxon Avenger" by Tom Kerr
Warrior #1, published in 1974, Dez Skinn’s first take on the ‘Warrior’ brand, featuring reprints of “Wrath of the Gods”, art by John M. Burns, “Kelpie – Boy Wizard” art by John M Burns, “Erik the Viking”, art by Don Lawrence, “Heros the Spartan”, art by Frank Bellamy, “Olac the Gladiator”, art by Don Lawrence, and “Black Axe – Saxon Avenger” by Tom Kerr. Richard Sheaf has a feature on this incarnation of Warrior on his Boys Adventure Comics blog
British Comic Con programmes from the early 1970s
British Comic Con programmes from the early 1970s
The first edition of Comic Mart Magazine, published in the UK in 1974. It features review of "Enter the Dragon" with Bruce Lee (1973). Also included is a programme for 'Comic Mart', described as  "Britain's Largest Comic Fan Gathering"
The first edition of Comic Mart Magazine, published in the UK in 1974. It features review of “Enter the Dragon” with Bruce Lee (1973). Also included is a programme for ‘Comic Mart’, described as “Britain’s Largest Comic Fan Gathering”
Various British Comic Con booklets from the 1970s
Various British Comic Con booklets from the 1970s

This auction close 31st May 2023 and you can view the entire catalogue here at The-Saleroom. You need to register in advance to bid

Ancient Mariner Auctions Ltd., established in 2020, is online at ancientmariner.auction

If you want to check out online read-only digital editions of some of the British fanzines featured in this auction, head to FANSCENE, curated by David Hathaway-Price, where many of them can be found, uploaded with the permission of the original editors/ publishers

Richard Sheaf has a feature on this incarnation of Warrior on his Boys Adventure Comics blog

ALSO ON DOWNTHETUBES

Read our article on the attempted 2017 sale of an issue of Utopia

Fanzine Flashback – KA-POW, Britain’s first comics zine? 

With thanks to Rajeesh Shah



Categories: Auctions, British Comics, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds

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