The online auction house Catawiki regularly features a wide range of comic art (and comic-related) weekly auctions, but one of its latest, “From the Vaults of the Book Palace“, closing 21st July 2024, is a treat for British comic fans.
Curated by Filippo Piras, 40 artworks on offer span 2000AD pages by Simon Bisley, Carlos Ezquerra, and Manuel Benet – but there are other treasures in the spotlight, including “Trigan Empire” pages by Oliver Frey and Gerry Wood, a lithograph by John Bolton, and a wide assortment of illustrations created for a range of British titles, and more.
Artists in the catalogue include Severino Baraldi, Jesus Blasco, Al Davison, Pete Doherty, Eloy Jimenez Gambin, Jim Holdaway, Bill Mevin, Leopoldo Ortiz, Victor Ramos, Arthur Ranson, Leo Rawlings, Francisco Diaz Villagrasa, Peter Woolcock, and more.
The dramatic title page for Part 4 of the Strontium Dog story “The Moses Incident’, written by Alan Grant, lettered by Jack Potter and drawn by Carlos Ezquerra, first published in 2000AD Prog 338
A page from Part 6 of the Strontium Dog story “The Moses Incident’, written by Alan Grant, lettered by Jack Potter and drawn by Carlos Ezquerra, first published in 2000AD Prog 340
A full colour page drawn by Carlos Ezquerra for an episode of “Island of the Damned”, featuring Durham Red the ‘Strontium Bitch’, a mutant vampire, published in 2000AD 765, cover dated 11th January 1992
A full colour page drawn by Carlos Ezquerra for an episode of “Island of the Damned”, featuring Durham Red the ‘Strontium Bitch’, a mutant vampire, published in 2000AD 771, cover dated 22nd February 1992
Limited Edition Lithograph by John Bolton (1994). One of 350 signed prints
An episode of the “Modesty Blaise” story “Mister Sun” (No. 480), art by Jim Holdaway
Click on the pictures for larger images
“Judge Dredd – Mechanismo – Body Count” art by Manuel Benet for Judge Dredd Megazine No. 37
“Judge Dredd – Mechanismo – Body Count” art by Manuel Benet for Judge Dredd Megazine No. 37
Large signed art page displaying the talents of Eloy Jimenez Gambin, described as drawn as presentation portfolio pieces, circa 1975. Art on Bristol Board
An original gouache painting by Severino Baraldi featuring the Carthaginian leader, Hannibal, for Look and Learn No. 926, cover dated 20th October 1979, as he is presented with the decapitated head of his brother, the general Hasdrubal, and proclaims “I see there the fate of Carthage”. Hannibal was losing ground in Spain when his brother Hasdrubal led reinforcements through the Alps. Hasdrubal was defeated and slain before he could link up with his brother’s army and Hannibal’s first sight of his dead brother was when his severed head was thrown by the Romans into Hannibal’s camp.
Original watercolour and ink painting by Oliver Frey for an action packed episode of “The Trigan Empire”, first published in Look and Learn issue 781, cover dated 1st January 1977
An episode from the last ever Trigan Empire story, “Mercy Mission”, painted by Gerry Wood. King Salul’s son is sick and the decision is made to take him to Trigan City. The story has strong overtones of the saga of Moses
Three terrific pages from the strip, “Careful She Bites”, first published in the Princess Tina, cover dated 21st April 1967, with art by Victor Ramos. 14-year-old Trisha Damone leads a quiet and reclusive life in a caravan near the village of Livington, following the death of her mother and her father’s disappearance. Her lonely experience is brought to an end when social services order her to be take into council accommodation, but Trisha’s unusual upbringing means she does not mix well with others…
“SOS International” art for Speed and Power by Oliver Frey, published in 1980. Trouble at NASA HQ for the team of trouble shooters who seemed to delight beating up any Luddites who stood in the way of technological progress!
Three original paintings used in an early Roy Rogers annual, most probably the 1958 Roy Rogers Adventure Annual #2, drawn by Leo Rawlings. Rawlings is probably best known for the detailed drawings and paintings of scenes he drew while in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, which are now held in the Imperial War Museum, after he was captured in 1941. Once freed, Rawlings worked for comics The Victor and The Hornet, and artwork that Rawlings did for Publisher L. Miller and Sons included working on one of Britain’s first superheroes, Young Marvelman
A full page of original art by Simon Bisley from “The Tower Chronicles: Dread Stalker” written by Matt Wagner and published by Legendary Comics
• Catawiki Comic Artworks Auction (From the Vaults of the Book Palace) closes at 7.00pm on 21st July 2024 | Full Catalogue Here
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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