28 February 2021

War picture library issues 1-199

Will lot 68 in the current Compal auction be the most expensive picture library lot ever?

Comprised of 10 publisher's bound volumes of War Picture Library issues 1-199 is currently yours for bids over £3,250 (before buyer's premium etc.)

The lot is here - but hurry the auction closes from 2pm today





UPDATED: Pocket chiller library

Following on from my post yesterday about Dave Gibbons contribution to the Pocket Chiller Library series (here) - his first paid work no less - I thought I'd have a go at building on the work that John Freeman has done (here) and see what issues of PCL I could find.

Right then, a quick search has revealed these nasties / beauties (delete as applicable)...there's plenty more out there so I'll add to this post as I go along

Pocket Chiller library #2 - The jewels

Pocket Chiller library #6 - The evil eye

Pocket Chiller library #11 - To kill for kicks

Pocket Chiller library #15 - The potholer

Pocket Chiller library #19 - Billy the kid

Pocket Chiller library #20 - The statue

Pocket Chiller library #22 - The body snatcher

Pocket Chiller library #23 - followers of Satan

Pocket Chiller library #24 - Hands of evil

Pocket Chiller library #25 - The bloody flowers

Pocket Chiller library #27 - The secret in the cellar

Pocket Chiller library #35 - The mutant

Pocket Chiller library #38 - The children of the damned

Pocket Chiller library #41 - Nightmare curse


Pocket Chiller library #44 - The unquiet grave

Pocket Chiller library #45 - Fury


Pocket Chiller library #46 - The mummies

Pocket Chiller library #47 - The cupboard

Pocket Chiller library #49 - The finger







27 February 2021

UPDATED: annual flyers

I used to love getting a flyer for the year's annuals (and then, to no avail, ticking off the ones I was interested in getting for the upcoming Christmas). Sadly I didn't keep any of then, however that's what they invented eBay for ! 

So, and with acknowledgment that there are plenty of gaps in my listing, here's a trip down memory lane for you...

The flyers for 1980 is the new addition for this post.

Longacre annuals for 1961 



Longacre annuals for 1962




Fleetway annuals for 1963 




Fleetway annuals for 1977 





Fleetway annuals for 1980










Interesting to see a 'draft' cover for the Tornado 1980 annual here...






Fleetway annuals for 1983

Fleetway annuals for 1984 




Fleetway annuals for 1985 


















26 February 2021

Book Palace announce two new books

Details of two new books from the Illustrators imprint of Book Palace publishing should have all fans of British comics very excited...

First up is this...
Blazing Guns and Flashing Swords!

Highwaymen in comics and books: Galloping horses, velvet masks, Smoking pistols, stand and deliver, David Ashford takes us on a moonlit ride through the perilous roads of old England to meet up with the artists who have helped to create the visual images of the notorious masked highwaymen who were known as “Gentlemen of the Road”.

British Western comics: The history and legends of the Wild West as portrayed in British comics. Gunslingers, Cattle Rustlers, Buffalo Bill, Kit Carson, Billy the Kid; all come whooping, hollering and slapping leather.

Peter Jackson the great historical illustrator, David Ashford and Norman Wright join forces to tell us about the truly extraordinary artists who excelled at historical comic strips and illustrations.

Illustrators Special Edition limited to just 750 copies worldwide. A Book Palace Books publication.

Authors: David Ashford, Norman Wright
Artists: Peter Jackson, Don Lawrence, Geoff Campion, James McConnell, Frank Humphris, Denis Mcloughlin, Derek Eyles, Ron Embleton, et al
Publisher: Book Palace Books, due March 2021
Number of pages: 96
Format: Soft Cover; Full Colour illustrations
Size: 9" x 11" (216mm x 280mm)
ISBN: 9781913548131

You can have a sneak peak at it here and you can order it for £25

Here's the back cover...


As if that wasn't enough there's also this...



Superb art collection limited to 600 copies worldwide.

For the first time ever, we are proud to present the complete collection of Ron Embleton's Dickensian themed artworks.

Created during the 1970s these images covered a variety of themes including characters from the novels of Dickens, children's street games, street vendors, horse-borne transport and Edwardian entertainment.

The book includes an introduction to Ron Embleton's art and career, including photographs of the artist in his studio and the techniques he employed to create these delightful images, scanned directly from the originals.

This special edition limited to just 600 copies worldwide. A Book Palace Books publication.

Author: Peter Richardson
Artist: Ron Embleton
Publisher: Book Palace Books, due April 2021
Number of pages: 96
Format: Hard Cover; Full Colour illustrations
Size: 9" x 11" (216mm x 280mm)
ISBN: 9781913548124

Priced at £30 and you can order it here

Don't forget there's also a Frank Bellamy (see blog posting here) AND a Sydney Jordan & Jim Holdaway book as well (see blog posting here)