Merry Christmas from Frank Bellamy (World's Press News Part Three)

PART THREE: WORLD'S PRESS NEWS
Part One
Part Two

World's Press News 14 December 1951

Here's your Christmas present from me! The final part of the Frank Bellamy illustrations he did advertising the Daily Telegraph in World's Press News and Advertiser's Review

The beautiful piece above appeared in Dez Skinn and Dave Gibbon's interview in Fantasy Advertiser which led to many people thinking Bellamy illustrated for the Telegraph. On the left Bellamy shows the Daily Telegraph Building, still a landmark on Fleet Street. He also illustrates all the tools of the letterpress trade as well as Christmas decorations. The swirl under the greeting appears in the original in red ink.

World's Press News 12 December 1952

For “Features that pull No. 12" we get “Father Christmas and the New Year” signed with Bellamy's early signature "FAB". Notice the crown placed on the 1953 signpost showing how the country was gearing up for the forthcoming coronation (following the death of Princess Elizabeth's father on 6 February 1952). We see the previously illustrated features pulling against Father Christmas, including a microphone, a television aerial and an artist's palette on one strand; a kite with a crossword(!) on another strand;  the car, rugby player (with tennis racket!), the woman (from the Woman's Page), Peterborough is facing away from us in anonymity, the actor, the doorman and the City gent. We also see two books (not the book-buying customer!), a little boy (not the cowboy but maybe from the hobbies page?) and finally a spade with a face! I particluarly love how Bellamy has sneaked in the name of the studio he worked for!

Blown up for your inconvenience!

And finally, I spotted this advert in Home Notes (6 July 1951, page 36) which looked so like Bellamy's in execution that I wondered if it was his. It's certainly the time when he worked on the above World's Press drawings! What do you think?

Home Notes 6 July 1951, p.36

Original Art: Story of World War One

Frank Bellamy artwork for Look and Learn #437 (30 May 1970)

Look and Learn was an educational weekly comic/magazine, that was thought to be bought by grandparents and parents for children, rather than children themselves buying it! It contained fascinating articles, lots of illustrations and also comic strips. From issues 437 - 462 (30 May 1970 - 21 November 1970), Frank Bellamy illustrated a series of text articles on "The Story of World War One"

The original art for the first episode has appeared on eBay and looks to be well preserved - not faded.  It's curling but that can easily be rectified. It's a lovely example of how Bellamy had left the space for the text to be dropped in - such confidence by typesetters and the editor (Jack Parker)! The text was written by Mike Butterworth (and in the first episode had a page prior to this by Bellamy) and in most issues had accompanying photographs

I have written quite a bit about this series as well as the introduction to the brilliant reprint published by Book Palace - in fact, my profile image shows me at the book signing (yes me, signing a book!) where the real worker was Steve Holland who put the thing together!

I have added all the images the seller has put on the auction in order to capture them before the piece disappears into someone's private collection.

Links:
Centenary video
Overview with links
Additional unpublished image

Buy the book: http://bookpalace.com/acatalog/Frank_Bellamy_Graphic_Novels.html


AUCTION SUMMARY
WHERE?: eBay - wishingonarainbow
STARTING BID: £350
ENDING PRICE:£530
NO. OF BIDS:11

END DATE: Wednesday 21 November 2018

ORIGINAL ART: Thunderbirds and Garth from Bob Monkhouse Estate

Cover of TV21 #90 Monster built by Roger Dicken

The November catalogue at Comic Book Auctions Limited run by Malcolm Phillips has some amazing materials up for auction. Follow that link for his catalogue and illustrations and bid via The Saleroom here. He has been entrusted by Bob Monkhouse's Estate to sell some of this collector's extensive artwork and comics. As he says (without hyperbole in my opinion)

We are delighted to draw your attention to some magnificent artwork boards consigned to us from the Bob Monkhouse Archive. They comprise pieces from 1900–1974 and include Ally Sloper by W F Thomas, Film Fun’s Terry Thomas by Terry Wakefield, Erik The Viking, The Trigan Empire, both by Don Lawrence with Garth and Thunderbirds pieces by Frank Bellamy. The Thunderbirds double-page illustration is magnificent and one of his best boards ever to come up for auction.

Tom Derbyshire at Antiques Trade Gazette has written a piece on the auction, which in itself is going to raise some outside interest, in my opinion.

Original art - sans balloons - Thunderbirds from TV21 #90

The Thunderbirds strip comes from TV21 #90, from the story where TB3 crashes on Venus, after blasting some solar matter to pieces. The photo doesn't do this piece credit as I think the colours look very bright and preserved correctly.  What's interesting here is the lack of balloons and captions. This is very unusual to see and I'd love to know how Bob Monkhouse managed to get this like this. Alan Davis' collection of Polaroids and other photos show how Thunderbirds would have been delivered by Bellamy to the publisher, but the artwork I've normally seen for sale has balloons stuck on (or falling off!) so this is a wonderful sale.

Malcolm describes the artwork like this:

Thunderbirds original double-page artwork (1966) drawn, painted and signed by Frank Bellamy for TV Century 21 No 90 1966. From the Bob Monkhouse Archive. The front cover of the comic screamed, "Nightmare Splashdown for Crippled Ship - Monster Attacks Thunderbird 3!" And here is Bellamy's brilliant double-page artwork to prove it! The 'Thunderbirds' logo is an unattached laser colour copy, as are the word balloons with the original comic, all included in the lot. Bright, fresh Pelikan inks on board. 28 x 20 ins. 

Auctioneer's estimate

1,800 GBP - 2,300 GBP (opening bid 1,620 GBP)

The original with the word balloons and captions attached looked like this - bearing in mind it's a scan that's joined together, but you can still see how vibrant the original is.

The three Garth strips  that are being offered form the Bob Monkhouse Estate are from "The Wreckers" story that ran in from 26 October 1973 - 18 February 1974. These three (H26, H27 and H29) show a lovely action sequence in the water - not quite consecutively - and demonstrate how very clear Bellamy's art was for the Garth strip in the Daily Mirror.

Garth: 3 original consecutive [sic] artworks drawn and signed by Frank Bellamy from the Daily Mirror Jan/Feb 1974. From the Bob Monkhouse Archive. Garth saves Andromeda from Tallion's clutches … Indian ink on board. 20 x 8 ins (x3)

Auctioneer's estimate

350 GBP - 400 GBP - (opening bid 320 GBP)

H26, H27 and H29 "The Wreckers" Frank Bellamy

As part of the wonderful public service I offer, here's the missing H28 that would have made these consecutive. BUT you are still getting 2 consecutive strips plus one more from the same story from the same source!

H28 of The Wreckers story

I shall record the details as usual here and on my spreadsheet, when the auction ends

AUCTION SUMMARY

Thunderbirds - TV21 #90
WHERE?: Comic Book Auctions Ltd
STARTING BID:£
ENDING PRICE: £4550 +16% VAT/Sales tax
NO. OF BIDS:

END DATE: Sunday 25 Nov 2018 14:00 GMT

Garth: The Wreckers
WHERE?: Comic Book Auctions Ltd.
STARTING BID:£
ENDING PRICE: £1200 +16% VAT/Sales tax
NO. OF BIDS:

END DATE: Sunday 25 Nov 2018 14:00 GMT

ORIGINAL ART: Sunday Times: Inside Racing

Original artwork for "Inside Racing"
published in Sunday Times Colour Magazine 25 April 1971

I found out about this auction too late to highlight it here for people to visit, but thought it worth adding here so you can see some lovely artwork

Previously I highlighted the article as it appeared in the Sunday Times Colour Magazine together with Tim Barnes' copies of the draft work "Devious ways to win" - the original unpublished title.

Roseberys auction house is based in London SE27 and they described the work as:

Lot 268 of 495:Frank A Bellamy, FSIA SGA FRSA, British 1917-1976- Racing strip for the Sunday Times Magazine; ink and watercolour on CS 10 line board, 46.3x70.5cm, (unframed) (ARR)

They had an estimate of £60-100 + fees (30% inc VAT) so I'd guess they were pleasantly suprised that it reached £880 which I'd say was a great bargain for such a unique piece.

AUCTION SUMMARY
WHERE?: Roseberys
LOT #: 268
STARTING BID:£60-100
ENDING PRICE: £880
END DATE: 3 November 2018

Original Art: Garth on eBay - The Bubble Man (J239)

J239 episode of  "Garth: The Bubble Man" Drawn by Frank Bellamy

There's another Garth strip on eBay - from the "Bubble Man" story (#J239) - many thanks to Chris Power for alerting me to it.  "sweet4action" is the seller who describes the item like this:

You are bidding on an original signed Daily Mirror 'Garth' Cartoon strip from 1975 by the late Frank Bellamy. Drawn in pen and ink on artboard the piece features many of the artistic flourishes Bellamy was famed for.

DIMENSIONS: Approximately 54.5cm x 15.5cm.

ITEM DETAILS: The strip carries the date 10-10-75 in pen, in the top right corner, and the number J239 denotes that it is from 'The Bubble Man' series from that year (1975). Considering that the strip is over 43 years old it is in extremely good condition, being bright and clean with no staining, yellowing and only minimal wear to board corners (see photos). The pen-work is crisp and clear with only the odd pencil outline visible. It has the Daily Mirror copyright stamp on the back (see photos).

This auction is due to end  on 12 November 2018 and the bidding starts at £225.

The seller put up these images too which show the lovely detail

The last episode from this story that sold went for only £255 in March this year. I suy 'only' because I'm surprised that it didn't go for more!

The Bubble Man story has been reprinted in the following places:

• Garth: The Bubble Man All Devon Comic Collectors Club Daily Strips: Collectors Club Editions No.28 [No date]
• Garth: The Bubble Man Spaceship Away Issue 19, October 2009, to Issue 23 March 2011 Coloured by John Ridgway
• Daily Mirror Wednesday 9 November 2011 to Friday 30 December 2011 - Two tier reprint coloured by Martin Baines

AUCTION SUMMARY
WHERE?: eBay
SELLER: sweet4action
LOT #: 223215051163STARTING BID:£225
ENDING PRICE: £376
NO. OF BIDS: 10

END DATE: 12 November 2018

World's Press News and Advertiser's Review and Frank Bellamy - PART TWO

PART TWO: WORLD'S PRESS NEWS
Part One

World's Press News 11 July 1952, p2

Continuing my brief overview of an obscure corner of Bellamy's work, the next World's Press News advert for the Daily Telegraph concentrates on the crossword puzzle. Bellamy draws a scene I'm sure he would have seen, living in Morden and having to get into central London to deliver artwork or attend editorial meetings. At this stage he was working for the Norfolk Studios, 24, Bride lane, just off Fleet Street.  This signed (F.A.B.) contains a red spot colour (not shown on B&W copy above!). I love the gentleman on the left squinting to read the gent in the middle's crossword. Is the gent in the middle spying on the lady hiding her crossword? Notice the nice touch by the Telegraph at the bottom: "can putt at your sphere (anag.)" - but it's not the usual "is the paper people trust" as there are not enough 'p's. I look forward to your answers!

World's Press News 22 August 1952

"The City", the financial centre of London (and by association, England) is the next feature drawn by Bellamy. Interestingly, beginning in this issue, the eighth in the series, the line "Features that pull" has been added. "Francis Whitmore's City Notes" are mentioned for the types who are "something in the City and Bellamy shows a man in a 'pinny' at the washing-up and the garden fork, spade and lawnmower are nearby. I don't quite understand what this is saying. Is the overbearing wife making sure her 'City' gent is working at home too? What does she do all day? Is it the juxtaposition between his position in the City and his non-position at home?

World's Press News 19 September 1952

This next one shows the 19 September 1952 issue “Features that pull No. 9: Films" and is signed FAB. This one shows how Bellamy, even this early had experience of representative portraits and cartoon characters. At the top left we see an usherette's hand flashing a torch to show people to their seats. At the top right the post-War "spiv" with his girlfriend cuddling on the back row, while a serious older man sits in front of them. There's an older woman crying and a young boy dressed as a cowboy who doesn't want anything to do with such emotional displays! The film stock runs down vertically with a highlighted frame of two Hollywood lovers. Later Radio Times work shows Bellamy doing brilliant representations of actors. Finally at the bottom is the doorman in his uniform looking bored, but I love the film border turning into his steps! Campbell Dixon film reviewer gets a mention in the text. Below and just for a bit of fun, David Jackson has added a grey tint to the above to show how Bellamy might have added value to the drawing.

Imagine what it would look like with shading!

The next "Features that pull" (#10) shows my least favourite of the series. A customer in hat and coat has the Daily Telegraph to hand and picks a book from the display whilst another man looks on (reading his paper?). John Betjeman and Guy Ramsay amongst others do the book reviews choosing from "14,000 new titles appearing in a year"! In tiny print at the bottom of the book display you can just see Bellamy's signature "FAB".

World's Press News 17 October 1952

And here's the last one I'm going to show you until later in the year!

"Features that pull: #11: Special Features" gives us Television, Music, Radio, Bridge, Art, Gardening and childrens' hobbies. But what is the connecting device supposed to represent? Some of the wonderful writers' names the Telegraph had were "Marsland  Gander on Radio and TV, Richard Capell and Martin Cooper on Music, T.W. Earp on Art, A.J. Smith (with a problem) on Bridge, H.H. Thomas on Gardening". Names like that rarely appear nowadays! You will hardly make out the signature at the bottom left, but it states - unusually- "FAB Norfolk", which, of course does not refer to where he lived but the Norfolk Studios, where he worked.

World's Press News 14 November 1952

Original Art: Garth on Heritage - The Man-Hunt (K240)

K240 episode of  "Garth: The Man-Hunt" Drawn by Frank Bellamy

Heriatge Auctions have another Garth strip by Frank Bellamy for auction and I suspect, as in many of Bellamy's women, the main figure might be based on his wife Nancy. This strip comes from the Garth story "The Man-Hunt", which was the last story illustrated by Bellamy before his death in 1976. The opening strip (K239) was published on 7 October 1976 and K254 (25 October 1976) was his last signed strip after which Martin Asbury took over this story (ending it 15 January 1977) and the Garth series until its demise in March 1997.


Heritage describe the piece:

Frank Bellamy Garth Daily Comic Strip #K240 Original Art dated 8-10-76 (Daily Mirror of London, 1976). This is one of the last few Garth episodes Frank Bellamy illustrated, as he died suddenly in July of 1976. As a result, this installment appeared in print posthumously. In this episode, the science-fiction/superman feature takes a turn into the provocative concept of "synthesisation of organic matter" -- an ahead-of-its time idea, typical of classic SF. The title hero, Garth, receives a summons to meet with the scientist responsible, and is astonished to learn that she is organic, not synthetic. Bellamy lays down some finely detailed inking over graphite on illustration board with an image area of 20.5" x 5.25", it is in Excellent condition.

This auction is on Sunday August 19 2018

The Man-Hunt story has been reprinted just twice in the following places:

• Mirror Classic Cartoon Collection, Mike Higgs, London: Hawk 1998
• Daily Mirror Tuesday 4 November 2014 to Wednesday 12 November 2014 (K254). This was the coloured version (with printed credits for Martin Baines and Bellamy (but not Jim Edgar the author!). The story drawn by Martin Asbury continued until 22 December 2014

Here's the first page from Mike Higgs' Mirror Classic Cartoon book with an introduction

The Man-Hunt drawn by Frank Bellamy

AUCTION SUMMARY
WHERE?: Heritage
STARTING BID:$1
ENDING PRICE: $432 (includes Buyer's Premium) = £334.34
NO. OF BIDS: 10

END DATE: Sunday 19 August 2018