John Gillatt - early influences

Swiped from an ebay sale a while ago is this letter from comic artist John Gillatt all about his formative comic influences

Sjakie & Rob van de Rovers repriints

I've looked previously (here and here) at a few of the Dutch reprints of Billy's Boots that have been produced. That was quite a lengthy series of reprints volumes - stretching to at least 33 volumes. I've got most of those volumes (I'm just missing volumes 23 & 25) but there are a few more things that you could be looking out for once you've collected all those Billy's Boots volumes. This is by no means a complete guide to what's out there, it's just a introduction...

This is a (nearly) A5 sized text novel, approx. 70 pages long. Only one internal illustration.

Tom Kerr style cover for this reprint of the very earliest Billy's Boots stories. A4 size, paperback, full colour throughout. These stories are covered in pages 3-47 of the Billy's Boots reprint from Rebellion.

This is like one of the 'regular' reprint volumes only it's got a bit of extra content in it - quizzes, puzzles, skills etc. A4, full colour throughout, 64 pages.

A4 sized, black & white art throughout. 94 pages - of which 2/3rds is Roy of the Rovers and 1/3rd is Billy's Boots.

80 page, A4 sized, full colour throughout. Half Billy's Boots, half Roy of the Rovers.

A 'double' reprint album - this combines volumes 10 & 11 of the 'classic' album reprints. Why, since it's double album #1, it doesn't reprint volumes 1 & 2 is beyond me. Presumably they had lots of unsold copies of volumes 10 & 11 and this was the best way to get rid of them!

A postcard, art by Tom Kerr.

UPDATED: John Gillatt - original art

Shamelessly lifted (for posterity!) from the always interesting "BOCAC - British Original Comic Art Collectors" Facebook group are these two examples of John Gillatt's work for his Dutch (reprint) publisher.

The lucky owner said...These came into my possession back in 1987, given to me by the owner of an art agency in Chichester Rents, London (long since demolished!)

and now another image has come to light...

the owner says...The Dutch 'Het Stripschap' had ten original covers made by John in their archives. They where returned to John in 2012.

John Gillatt - original art

Shamelessly lifted (for posterity!) from the always interesting "BOCAC - British Original Comic Art Collectors" Facebook group are these two examples of John Gillatt's work for his Dutch (reprint) publisher.

The lucky owner said...These came into my possession back in 1987, given to me by the owner of an art agency in Chichester Rents, London (long since demolished!)