The Brenda Butler Archive produced another winner with the first Beano Book at £3650

This 1941 second Beano book from Brenda’s archive was described as the highest grade example ever to come for auction and its Very Fine grade had several high net-worth individuals competing strongly to produce a massive winning bid of £5500

The third Beano Book was also a record breaker leaving the under-bidders, as well as Big Eggo, in a spin with £3050.

One of our single issue Beanos, No 156, had Hitler and Goering having a surprise breakfast with Big Eggo. £390 full English.

Oor Wullie and fat Bob’s mas make them dress up for a photie. Snapped up for £520

A huge winning bid of £720 secured the Lion’s pride with a bound volume featuring issues 20-71.

Here was an rare misprint copy of Desperate Dan’s No 1 annual where the yellow colour was absent from the print run making the reds look pink. Desperate Dan in a pink shirt…I don’t think so. £250 spared his blushes.

The L Miller UK reprint of Captain America reprinted the original US Cap America #77 cover as its No 1. Only a handful of copies have ever come to light and this one in lowish grade made £300. Plenty of bang for your Bucky.

The full five issue run of Planet comics UK reprints was snapped up by a knowledgable US buyer for £180. He is one of a growing band of American collectors who understand the rarity of these reprints which remain significantly cheaper than their original US counterparts.

The original Radio Fun annual for 1950 showed ITMA’s Tommy Handley on the front cover but his untimely death in 1949 caused the annual to be withdrawn and redesigned with Wilfred Pickles in his place. According to our research some Tommy Handley copies were sent out to Commonwealth countries before withdrawal. This is borne out by the copy offered here which did not have the ‘7/6’ UK price on the fly page but it did have a small sticker on the inside cover ‘Frank Every’s Book shop Bendigo’, Bendigo being in Victoria, Australia. £220 was an absolute bargain buy and our canny Geordie collector knew that.

Radio Fun reprinted the US Superman adventures in double page spreads during 1959-60 and 40 fresh issues sold here for £340.

During 1968-69 the politically subversive International Times reported on the Stones in Hyde Park, John Lennon’s letters, the To Yoko art exhibition, Wonder Woman’s alternative comic strip ‘What turns the Mighty Maiden on?’, Acid Rock, T-Rex, Pretty Things and not so pretty things. IT copies are difficult to find and unfolded fresh examples even more so. 22 pieces sold for £20 each and the Miller told his tale.

OZ magazine worshipped at the same alternative altar and No 2 had articles on the BBC cover-up of the Warren Commission/Kennedy assassination, irreverent reference to Harold Wilson as Playmate of the Month and a Germaine Greer article Analysing British Breasts. This was followed by a (free entry) competition to find the best. A bra-burning £310 triumphed.

In June 1967 Oz No 4 was distributed during the Legalise Pot rally in Hyde Park and its Hapshash and the Coloured Coat fold out cover ensured a sell-out. Articles included Hippy Weddings, a guide to living in sin and Snakes and Ladders board game parody ‘Snakes and Snakes – a lovely game for courting couples’. £170 was the high

OZ magazine 7 had a Bob Dylan cover by Oz founding artist Martin Sharp and £135 took from you everything he could steal.

 

TV 21 No 1 with free gift Special Agent Top Secret Decoder was in medium shape and decoded £230

43 late 70s Misty comics with their alluring covers drew in £3 each

The Punisher’s first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man 129 did not deter bidders from the comic’s condition. Moisture rippling to the right hand side produced applause rippling at £210

Astonishing Tales 25 CGC 9.6 sold for £155, about half its Overstreet Guide price.

Low grade keys always attract multiple bids and this Avengers 1 example had cover store stamp, pen price, pen month and two ring stains. It also had a winning bid of £540

We showcased a long run of Fantastic Four in this catalogue and here are issues 11-14 which in a low grade spread of [gd+/vg-] torched £280

Here’s F F 51 CGC’d at 9.4 and taken away at £490

Tales Of Suspense 46-50 from 1963 garnered £180 in mid grades

Tomb of Dracula 5-15 unearthed a strong winning bid with £240 successfully staked

We offered 9 lots of 1970s Marvel Magazines in this catalogue and 26 issues of Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu chopped £195

This near complete run of All Star Western included key issues 10 and 11, the first and second appearances of Jonah Hex, taken away for a quick-draw £240

We end our Market Report with lot 154, a low grade copy of Blue Bolt 11 which sold for £11.00 and you may rightly think ‘so what’.