Bob Monkhouse archive artwork backs a vote for Sloper

Earlier material in the last Comic Book Auctions (16% buyer’s premium) sale of the old year, which ended on November 25, included an original ink on card artwork of 1900 featuring Ally Sloper, whose pioneering comic debut had been made as early as 1867 in Judy, a comic rival to Punch.

Extracted from Learn Antiques Gazette | Ian McKay

Original ink on card artwork of 1900 featuring Ally Sloper, the work of WF Thomas, which sold for £720 at Comic Book Auctions. It came from the Bob Monkhouse archive.

Signed and dated by the artist, WF Thomas, it was one of many lots from the Bob Monkhouse archive of comics and comic artwork to have been offered by CBA in recent times. It sold at £720.

Two bound volumes of Dandy were among the day’s best-sellers and made notably higher than predicted sums.

Sold at £2500 was a volume containing 25 issues from the year 1948, when, because of continuing wartime paper shortages, the comic was still being published fortnightly – alternating with the Beano.

Sold at £4100 was a volume of 52 issues from the year 1951, among them the 500th birthday number. It was described as bright and fresh with creamy white pages.