ORIGINAL ART: Montgomery and Garth

Copies of Montgomery plus original artwork

Well, this has been a busy month for me. Omega Auctions (of Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside) c/o TheSaleroom are auctioning some original art and a collector's bound copy of Heros the Spartan and also Thunderbirds in their "TV, Film and Entertainment Memorabilia with Comics" auction.

MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN

"Montgomery of Alamein" Eagle Vol.13:21

Boards from the "Montgomery of Alamein" series in Eagle are very rare and this one is in pretty good condition considering its age. The last one sold that I recorded in nearly 15 years of keeping figures, was in November 2009 (from Eagle Vol 13:17) and that raised an impressive £2,849 for Comic Book Auctions Ltd. Here we are 13 years later with the episode from Eagle 26 May 1962 (Vol.13:21). The biography of Monty ran for 18 weeks from 10 March 1962 - 7 July 1962 and is one of my personal favourites, written by Clifford Makins. 

The auctioneers descibe it thus:

An original artboard (60 x 44cm) with original art across various panels for 'Montgomery Of Alamein' by Frank Bellamy, published 26th May 1962 in 'The Eagle'. Marked to lower right hand 'Vol 13/21'. Also a set of 18 sheets of the strip from March to 17th [sic] July 1962.

I love the devices Frank Bellamy used in this series which appeared as shorthand for troop movements and the large lettering for "Operation Market Garden" (one of the airborne forces most famous operations). Then we have the cameo of Monty himself. When comparing the original as being sold I feel I must say that at this point in Eagle's 12 years of publication, the printing quality was nowhere near as good as it had been and looking at the original we can see that this well-preserved piece shines compared to the printed version. All of the text boxes which will have been glued in place by Eagle staff seem to have gone, but what a beauty! I'd love to see a hi-res scan of this, if the winner feels like sharing!

"Montgomery of Alamein" Eagle Vol.13:21 (my photo)

GARTH - THE DOOMSMEN (J180)

Garth- The Doomsmen (J180)

I suspect they do not have a comic strip expert at Omega Auctions, but nevertheless:

An original storyboard [sic] by artist Frank Bellamy, depicting a panel from a 'Garth' comic, published c 1975. Measures 54.5 x 17.5cm.

This is from a later story "The Doomsmen" and the auctioneer's estimate is £150 to £250 which suggests they haven't been reading my blog! But these are strange times so let's see!

The other three lots, of Bellamy interest, are "a large collection of Thunderbirds comic pages" described as 

"A large quantity of bound colour pages from TV Century 21 magazines with art by Frank Bellamy. One volume with pages from Jan 15th '2066' to Oct 22 '2066', one from Dec 10th '2066' to July 8 '2067', More from '2067' to '2069'."

From the images, I'm guessing you are also getting some other Bellamy cuttings such as Doctor Who and I can't see how the different sizes are bound. 

Then we have another group: "A bound collection of colour cover [sic] pages from 'Heros Of the Spartan' by Frank Bellamy, from 27th October 1962 to 26th Oct 1963. Good condition. "

It sounds like the first two Heros stories are here. I'll leave you to explore my comic listing to see what's missing from these volumes after you check with the auctioneers if required!

Then there is Dan Dare collected together and described:

A bound run of Dan Dare comics from The Eagle from 29th August [1959] to 9th July 1960. Excellent condition.

which sounds like all three Bellamy stories - but do check!

I'll update sales figures when they become known.

AUCTION SUMMARY

MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN

WHERE?: TheSaleroom / Omega Auctions
STARTING BID: £
ENDING PRICE: £2800
END DATE: 6 December 2022

GARTH - THE DOOMSMEN (J180)

WHERE?: TheSaleroom / Omega Auctions
STARTING BID: £90
ENDING PRICE: £220
END DATE: 6 December 2022

Bound copies of Heros

Bound copies of Thunderbirds

Bound copies of Dan Dare

ORIGINAL ART at Heritage.com: Thunderbirds

 A friend pointed out that there are some lovely works available on Heritage auction site (2022 December 10 - 11 Comics & Comic Art Signature® Auction #7343) due to be available to bid on 20 November 2022. To quote Heritage, "Bidding Begins Approx.November 21st Monday with Auction Dates December 10th-11th Saturday-Sunday.

Get a free account, login and limit your search to "Original Art" and sit back with a large cup of your favourite beverage. There are three Frank Bellamy pieces, but also 5 Mike Noble, one Frank Langford and an anonymous piece of Green Hornet artwork. Though I love Mike Noble's artwork, we're here to highlight Frank Bellamy.

THUNDERBIRDS TV21 #80

"Thunderbirds", TV21 #80 pp.10-11

Heritage:

Frank Bellamy TV Century 21 #80 Thunderbirds Complete 2-Page Story Original Art (Century 21 Publications, 1966). This two-page spread from Part 8 of the "Atlantic Tunnel" story arc features the Thunderbirds team recurring villain, the Hood! The page also features TB-2 delivering the Mole, as well as TB-1. The 2-page episode was presented as a double-page spread created in ink and watercolor on illustration board with an image area of 25" x 16.25". The logo is hand-painted. All text is hand-lettered paste-up. Signed by Bellamy in the image area. In Excellent condition.

Firstly Bellamy didn't use watercolour on his comic artwork - but many people are fooled by his superb washes in inks. Secondly all the balloons and text panels will have been added to Bellamy's complete work - see my previous articles showing delivered artwork photographed by Bellamy here and here -  but more importantly the "hand-painted" Thunderbirds logo. This will have been added onto Bellamy's finished artwork by the art staff of TV21 so I hope it's either the original pasted on lettering or a replica that someone has added. Also comparing the original and the comic it can be seen that the positioning is slightly different - perhaps the size is slightly different. So I think the artwork on Heritage has an added logo. Also notice the lack of pasted text panel at the start. There are also some other balloons that have moved from the published version - look at both the Hood's frames - and you'll see a text box missing.  

I'd love to know what happened but nevertheless it looks in brilliant condition and I'm sure will sell for four figures.

A scanned page from TV21 #80

THUNDERBIRDS TV21 #88

"Thunderbirds" in TV21 #88, pp10-11

Heritage:

Frank Bellamy TV Century 21 #88 Thunderbirds Complete 2-Page Story Original Art (Century 21 Publications, 1966). This episode was Part 6 of the story arc "Solar Menace" and it features the TB-2, and the TB-3. The cliffhanger leaves Alan and Brains in a bad situation. The 2-page episode was presented as a double-page spread created in ink and watercolor on illustration board with an image area of 25" x 16.25". Signed by Bellamy in the image area. All text is hand-lettered paste-up. In Excellent condition.

Same thing about the watercolour.The most interesting thing for me is what's happened at the top left corner? Here's the original comic - the colours on this comic and the one above are a bit messy but I think you'll see what I'm seeing. Despite whatever has happened, the rest looks gorgeous!

A scanned page from TV21 #88

Bellamy never left that area blank and included some interesting backgrounds for the logo to be dropped in - in this case, more blue sky. But thankfully the rest does not appear to have faded - as can be seen by those rich blues which UV light loves to eat!

THUNDERBIRDS TV21 #156

"Thunderbirds" in TV21 #156, p.11

Heritage:

Frank Bellamy TV21 #156 Thunderbirds Story Page 2 Original Art (Century 21 Publications, 1968). Virgil Tracy is at the controls of Thunderbird-2 and valiantly searching for his brother Gordon in the missing aquatic Thunderbird-4. An exciting page with great layout and vibrant color work. Created in ink over watercolor on illustration board with an image area of 12" x 16.25". Signed by Bellamy in the image area. All text is hand-lettered paste-up. In Excellent condition.

Firstly this reminds me to say regarding the two images above Heritage usually give two views of artwork - 1) close up on the art itself and 2) a view of the whole board.  In the piece above I'm showing the whole board version but the two double-page spreads above don't appear to have any more to show. Have they been trimmed back to the art? Unfortunately though, despite the "vibrant color work" I think this looks a bit faded. 

A scanned page 11 from TV21 #156

I'll update sales figures when they become known.

AUCTION SUMMARY

THUNDERBIRDS TV21 #80

WHERE?: Heritage
STARTING BID: £
ENDING PRICE: £9,050.69 ($11,100 inc buyers premium)
END DATE: 11 December 2022

THUNDERBIRDS TV21 #88

WHERE?: Heritage
STARTING BID: £
ENDING PRICE: ££9,050.69 ($11,100 inc buyers premium)
END DATE: 11 December 2022

THUNDERBIRDS TV21 #156, p.11

WHERE?: Heritage
STARTING BID: £
ENDING PRICE: £2,738.98 ($3,360 inc buyers premium)
END DATE: 11 December 2022

ORIGINAL ART: David and Garth x3

Eagle 21 March 1959 (Vol:10:12)

 This time Compal Auctions have a lovely non-faded piece of Bellamy colour artwork and three Garth strips. here's the usual (edited by me) blurb from Compal:

The Compalcomics November auction is open. The catalogue is open
Click here to visit thesaleroom.com You can also browse auction lots and print a fax or mail bidding form at Compalcomics Click here to visit Compalcomics
Postal and fax bids need to be with us by FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER and we will enter them on your behalf in thesaleroom.com/Comic Book Auctions website closing on Sunday 20 Nov from 2 pm.

DAVID THE SHEPHERD KING

So first we have a lovely "David the Shepherd King" page from the back cover of Eagle (21 March 1959). It's described like this:

David, The Shepherd King original back cover artwork by Frank Bellamy for The Eagle (1959) Vol. 10, No. 12. The Philistine hordes march on Jerusalem but David hides his warriors in the outlying forest setting a trap to ensnare the invaders. Years later, King David's son, Absalom plots treachery against his father. The 'Shepherd King' title header and top LH panel of Young David with explanatory text are laser colour additions to complete the look of the artwork. Pelikan inks on board. 17 x 22 ins

I ought to mention the comic was called "Eagle", not "The Eagle" - a mistake I have been hauled over the coals about!  I wonder if the second explanatory text on the third row might also be added later as well as the first one on the first row. The crowd scene with David leading the people of Israel in bringing the Ark of the Covenant is the usual brilliant Bellamy crowd panel. It will be interesting to see if the estimate of £1,500-£2,500 is close or not.

GARTH: THE ANGELS OF HELL'S GAP

Garth: The Angels of Hell's Gap J80

Then we have two strips from one of Bellamy's beloved Western strips. The first J80 has a lovely last panel where Bellamy does his trademark swirls and here indicates the outline of the mountain - gorgeous. It's described like this:

Garth: 'The Angels of Hell's Gap' original artwork (1975) drawn and signed by Frank Bellamy for the D. Mirror 8-4-'75. Indian ink on board. 21 x 7 ins

It has an opening bid of £220 and an estimate of £240-£280.

GARTH: THE ANGELS OF HELL'S GAP

Garth: The Angels of Hell's Gap J100

The second one is the penultimate strip from the same story - J100. Garth is a guest of a film director who is making a movie on the American Civil War in the exact location where it happened. Although the story doesn't spend much time on the Civil War it's obvious Bellamy loved the subject of the West. Again this is the stuff that drew me, later than I should have, to appreciate Bellamy's sense of design: the border on panel one; the use of those swirls in panel two to show Garth returning from his time-travelling!

The estimate is the same as the one above as well as the starting bid:

Garth: 'The Angels of Hell's Gap' original artwork (1975) drawn and signed by Frank Bellamy for the D. Mirror 1-5-'75. Indian ink on board. 21 x 7 ins

GARTH: THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

Garth: The Beautiful People K58

The last Bellamy original artwork in this auction is from "The Beautiful People" - episode K58.

Garth: 'The Beautiful People' original artwork (1976) drawn and signed by Frank Bellamy for the D. Mirror 9-3-'76. Indian ink on board. 21 x 7 ins

This seems to be considered more valuable as the opening bid is £230 with the auctioneer's estimate at £250 - £300

A lovely solid piece with the three separate panels with lots of those Bellamy swirls. The story is about Garth helping a friend who "has a string of international modellling agencies and worldwide pop group interests" but Mr Zamos, a criminal is messing up Garth's friend's idyll on Ikonos!

That's it.  I'll update the spreadsheet as usual after the auction. Happy Bidding!

AUCTION SUMMARY

DAVID THE SHEPHERD KING
WHERE?: Compal/Saleroom
STARTING BID: £1360
ENDING PRICE:£1640
END DATE: Sunday 20 November 2022

GARTH: THE ANGELS OF HELL'S GAP (J80)
WHERE?: Compal/Saleroom
STARTING BID: £220
ENDING PRICE:£270
END DATE: Sunday 20 November 2022

GARTH: THE ANGELS OF HELL'S GAP (J100)
WHERE?: Compal/Saleroom
STARTING BID: £220
ENDING PRICE:£340
END DATE: Sunday 20 November 2022
 

GARTH: THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (K58)
WHERE?: Compal/Saleroom
STARTING BID: £240
ENDING PRICE:£340
END DATE: Sunday 20 November 2022