In December, 1937, D.C. Thomson publishers launched "The
Dandy Comic", and, seven months later, on July 30, 1938, "The
Beano Comic". Both were hugely successful and many of their
characters became national institutions. The first Dandy
annual "The Dandy Monster Comic" appeared in 1939 and "The
Beano Book" was the first Beano annual in 1940. Some of the
early unsigned illustrative work was done by such talented
artists as James Crighton, Allan Morley, James Clark, Chic
Young and Frank Minnitt. One of the most talented and prolific
artists creating Dandy and Beano characters was Dudley Dexter
Watkins. His "Desperate Dan" combined a scottish town with the
American West of the 1880's. Amazingly, Watkins drew the
"Desperate Dan" character without a break for 1454 issues of
the weekly "Dandy" and in some thirty-odd "Dandy" annuals.
1. Dandy and Beano Magic Moments. D.C. Thomson, London (1992).
Tall 4 to., unpaginated (over 120 pp.). This collection features
the great times and special occasions from the pages of Britain's
best-loved comics. Join Desperate Dan as he rings in the New Year,
read the very first Minnie The Minx story and meet the millionth
member of Dennis the Menace's Fan Club. There are also selections
from Topper, Beezer and Sparky plus funnies from Easter, Halloween
and Christmas. Wine cloth. Minor edgewear; o/w VG+ in a VG
pictorial d.j. $16.00
2. Beano and Dandy: Side By Side for Sixty Years. London: D.C.
Thompson & Co., Tall 4 to., unpaginated (abt. 150 pp.). (1999) An entertaining
volume of archive material from the best of British comics. All of your
favourites are here: Desparate Dan, Korky the Cat, Dennis the Menace, Biffo
the Bear, Dirty Dick, and more. Burgundy cloth. Slight edgewear; slight
damage to inner hinges; o/w VG in a VG pictorial d.j. $20.00
3. Beano and Dandy: Around the World in 60 Years. D.C. Thomson,
London (1998). Tall 4 to., unpaginated (over 100 pp.). Lots more
laughs from over the years. A comic world where the Bash Street Kids
cause chaos on a cruise, Billy Whizzes off on a day-trip to Venice,
Lord Snooty's castle visits Spain and Desperate Dan eats through
solid rock to the other side of the globe! Wine cloth. Minor edgewear;
minor dings to top and bottom of spine; o/w VG+ in a VG pictorial
d.j. $17.00
4. Sixty Years of Beano and Dandy: a Library of Laughter. D.C.
Thomson, London (2000). Tall 4 to., unpaginated (over 120 pp.).
A selection of your favourites, with Egghead, Ball Boy, Korky and
Biffo, Minnie, Desperate Dan, Dennis and Lord Snooty. Get a sampling
of what they were like twenty, thirty, fifty years ago! Wine
cloth; minor ding to top and bottom of spine; o/w VG+ in a
VG pictorial d.j. $17.50
5. Dandy and Beano Present The Comics at Christmas. D.C. Thomson,
London (1997). Tall 4 to., unpaginated (over 120 pp.). From Christmases
past, here are all your favourites with the gift of laughter for you.
Wine cloth. Minor edgewear and rubbing; minor dings to top and bottom
of spine; o/w a VG copy in a VG pictorial d.j. $16.00
6. The Beano Book of Britain. Kingfisher, London. 1996. Tall 4 to.,
78 pp. A fun look at British history with the help of Beano characters
Billy Whizz, Dennis the Menace, Roger the Dodger, Minnie the Minx and
the rest of the Beano gang. Glossy pictorial boards. Minor edgewear;
two corners mildly bumped; minor ding to top and bottom of spine; o/w
VG in VG pictorial d.j. $15.50
7. The Beano Book 1990. D.C. Thomson, London (1989). Tall 4 to.,
unpaginated (abt. 110 pp.). Another hilarious collection featuring
the antics of Dennis the Menace, Roger the Dodger, Minnie the Minx,
Ivy the Terrible, the Bash Street Kids and more. Glossy pictorial
boards. Minor edgewear; corners bumped; minor foxing of foredges;
o/w a VG copy. $9.00
8. The Beano Book 1993. D.C. Thomson, London (1992). Tall 4 to.,
unpaginated (abt. 110 pp.). Be entertained by Minnie, Dennis, Roger,
Ivy, the Bash Street Kids, General Jumbo, Lord Snooty and the rest
of the gang. Glossy pictorial boards. Wonderful endpapers. Slight
edgewear; name line filled in; boards slightly bowed; o/w a VG
or better copy. $10.00
9. The Beano Book 1995. D.C. Thomson, London (1994). Tall 4 to.,
unpaginated (abt. 110 pp.). The same old gang but all new laughs.
Name line not filled in. Terrific endpapers. Glossy pictorial
boards. Slight edgewear; price sticker on front cover; o/w a
VG+ copy. $10.50
10. The Beano Book 1996. D.C. Thomson, London (1995). Tall 4 to.,
unpaginated (abt. 110 pp.). The Beano gang are all here but with
a big bag of nasty new tricks. Name page not filled in. Glossy
pictorial boards. Slight edgewear; minor ding to top of spine;
o/w a VG+ copy. $10.50
EAGLE ANNUALS
11. Eagle Annual 1990. Fleetway Publications, Lon. (1989).
4 to., 95 pp. Starring Dan Dare, the Galaxy's Most Famous
Space Hero! Also Storm Force, DoomLord and Computer Warrior.
Illus. in b/w and colour. Section on Boeing planes. Glossy
pictorial boards. Minor edgewear and rubbing; minor ding to
top of spine; o/w VG or better. $11.00
12. Eagle Annual 1991. Fleetway Publications, Lon. (1990).
4 to., 95 pp. Starring Dan Dare, the Galaxy's Most Famous
Space Hero! Also Storm Force, DoomLord and Computer Warrior.
Illus. in b/w and colour. Section on Royal Marines. Glossy
pictorial boards. Minor edgewear and rubbing; one corner
bumped; o/w VG+. $11.00
THE HOTSPUR ANNUAL FOR BOYS
The Hotspur weekly started way back in 1935 and
ran until 1959. Annuals were issued 1935-41, 1943
and 1949. The Hotspur weekly was relaunched as The
New Hotspsur on 24 October, 1959, an all-picture
paper; it was discontinued in 1963. The Hotspur
Book for Boys was issued for 1966 and ran into the
1990's. Here are a few issues you might remember.
13. Hotspur Book for Boys 1971. D.C. Thomson,
Lon. (1970). 4 to., 125 pp. One-colour illustrations
throughout. Stories of school, firefighting, western,
WWI, WWII, soccer, mountain rescue and more. Glossy
pictorial boards. Minor edgewear; boards somewhat
bowed; crease in rear board; o/w a G+ or better copy. $11.00
14. Hotspur Book for Boys 1972. D.C. Thomson,
Lon. (1971). 4 to., 125 pp. One-colour illustrations
throughout. War, western and adventure stories plus
"The Hotspur Football Special", several soccer stories
in a 30-page section. Glossy pictorial boards. Minor
edgewear; chipping at top and bottom of spine; price-
clipped; abt. a G+ copy. $9.50
15. Hotspur Book for Boys 1987. D.C. Thomson,
Lon. (1986). 4 to., 125 pp. One-colour illustrations
throughout. Exciting stories of war, western, adventure
and soccer, even an RCMP story about "Mountie Muldoon".
Glossy pictorial boards. Minor edgewear; corners bumped;
front board bowed; abt. a G+ copy. $10.50
16. Hotspur Book for Boys 1988. D.C. Thomson,
Lon. (1986). 4 to., 125 pp. One-colour illustrations
throughout. Exciting stories of war, western, adventure,
soccer and even outer space. Glossy pictorial boards.
Heavy chipping to top and bottom of spine; corners
bumped; o/w G+. $9.00
17. Hotspur Book for Boys 1992. D.C. Thomson,
Lon. (1991). 4 to., 125 pp. One-colour illustrations
throughout. Exciting stories of war, adventure, soccer,
outer space and two episodes of "Mantracker". Glossy
pictorial boards. Minor edgewear and rubbing; rear inner
hinge cracked; o/w a G+ copy. $11.00
VICTOR ANNUAL FOR BOYS
Another category of fiction, the war story, was featured in
a new picture paper, the "Victor". The first issue was
published on Feb. 25th, 1961. The Victor Book for Boys annual
was issued for 1964 and continued into the 1990's. The Victor
diet of war, cowboy, sports and adventure stories proved
very successful. Some characters from earlier annuals such as
"Rover" were repeated in Victor annuals.
18. Victor Book for Boys 1982. D.C. Thomson, Lon. (1981).
4 to., 125 pp. One-colour illustrations throughout. Glossy
pictorial boards. Moderate edgewear; corners bumped; spine
somewhat faded; short split at lower front outer hinge;
prev. owner's name and address; abt. a Good copy. $8.50
19. Victor Book for Boys 1983. D.C. Thomson, Lon. (1982).
4 to., 125 pp. One-colour illustrations throughout. Glossy
pictorial boards. Moderate edgewear; corners bumped; spine
has heavy chipping at top and bottom; abt. a G+ copy. $9.50
20. Victor Book for Boys 1984. D.C. Thomson, Lon. (1983).
4 to., 125 pp. One-colour illustrations throughout. Glossy
pictorial boards. Minor edgewear; corners mildly bumped;
price-clipped; o/w a VG clean copy. $11.00
EXPRESS SUPER COLOUR ANNUAL
Beaverbrook Newspapers, publishers of the "Daily" and
"Sunday Express", decided to set their sights on the
youth market in 1954, issuing a tabloid newspaper for
boys and girls entitled "Junior Express". This was
soon revamped into a comic and renamed "Junior Express
Weekly". Then, in 1956, still battling for a niche in
the comic market, it was renamed simply "Express".
Annuals were issued only for 1957 to 1960.
21. Offered here is "Express: Super Colour Annual
for 1959". Published by Beaverbrook in London. n.d.
but 1958. Tall 4 to., 157 pp. The annual is divided
into the following parts: Picture-Strip Stories (including
"Gun Law with Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal); Adventure
Stories; True-Life Features; Colour Pages; and, Humour.
Front endpapers are a two-page photo of "The English
Electric Deltic", while the rear endpapers are a two-
page photo of Canadian Pacific's dome-equipped streamliner.
Glossy pictorial boards. Fairly heavy chipping of edges;
some repair to spine; a G to G+ copy. $15.50
End of British Boys' Annuals Books