A first edition issue of The Beano has become the most expensive comic to ever be sold in Britain.
The popular magazine, which was published on July 30, 1938, sold for more than £30,000 at auction last Sunday. The 28 page issue was first sold in shops for just two old pennies and it’s believed only a handful of copies are thought to still exist.
The item sparked a bidding war among collectors when it was put up for sale by London-based firm Comic Book Auctions. However, an anonymous bidder secured the goods when it ended last weekend.
They paid a staggering £30,940, including buyer’s premium. The auctioneers said their lot was the only complete one as it still has a free gift of a Whoopee Mask, which came with the original issue, mounted on the cover, reports the Mirror.
Malcolm Phillips, director of Comic Book Auctions, said: “The Beano No 1 with free gift Whoopee Mask sold for £30,940 including 19 per cent buyer’s premium, a world record price for a British comic at auction. Our company, Comic Book Auctions Ltd, had previously sold this comic with its unique free gift in 1999 for £6,800 in a live auction at Chelsea Town Hall in London.
“There were several key bidders involved and we were absolutely delighted with the response. The winning bidder is long-time UK comics collector who wishes to remain anonymous.”
The first issue introduced readers to the first adventures of Big Eggo, Lord Snooty and his Pals, Morgyn the Mighty, Whoopee Hank and Tin-Can Tommy the Clockwork Boy. The front cover features a comic strip about Big Eggo, an ostrich, searching for a missing egg.
Other favourite characters such as Dennis the Menace and The Bash Street Kids were introduced to the comic in later issues. The previous world record price paid for a British comic was the first edition of a 1937 Dandy which sold for £20,350 in 2004. It included a free gift, a whistler pipe.
The description of The Beano comic in the auction catalogue said: “Beano Comic No 1 (1938) with free gift Whoopee Mask and promotional 8 page flyer for Beano Nos 1 and 2.
It added: “The first adventures of Big Eggo, Lord Snooty and his Pals, Morgyn the Mighty first illustrated strip, Whoopee Hank and Tin-Can Tommy the Clockwork Boy. Comic pages are tanned and the cover has some narrow RH edge loss. The free gift Whoopee Mask is the only known No 1 gift to survive.”
The Beano, published by Dundee-based DC Thomson, marked its 85th anniversary last year with a special commemorative issue which had guest appearances from top stars including Stormzy and Harry Styles. More than 4,000 issues of The Beano have been printed since its launch in 1938 with over 70,000 comic strips and 700 characters.
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