Wartime Dandy printers proofs offered at auction

By John Freeman on 30 April 2022

Heritage Auctions has an incredible The Dandy comic rarity among items in the upcoming Comic Art & Animation Select Auction taking place next Wednesday, 4th May 2022 – and bidding is proving fierce.

On offer are some 100 The Dandy Comic Production Cover Proofs, spanning 1940-49. While UK-based auction houses like Compal have previously offered such items individually, this is a chance to gain a huge number in one go.

First published in December 1937, The Dandy remains the world’s third-longest-running comic (after Italy’s Il Giornalino, and America’s Detective Comics), initially published weekly until paper shortages in 1941 moved it to fortnightly. It ran as a physical edition until 2012, surviving briefly as a digital comic until 2013.

The one-sided printer’s proofs measure 7.5″ x 10.25″. They are affixed to 10″ x 12″ sheets of paper and stapled into booklets covering specific years. The years covered are 1940, 1942, and 1949. (The last two years were during the period the series was still fortnightly).

The press proofs are described as on average in excellent condition, although the paper backings and folders are deteriorating.

• Check out the lot here on Heritage Auctions

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.