King Farouk's comic & pulp collection- 1952 video

[jpepx78]

 

While doing some research, I found some interesting historical newsreel footage about a notable collector who collected comics and pulps.

Please forgive me if I add some historical background. King Farouk was a colorful character and a prolific collector who assembled a diverse collection of items from around the world.

Farouk reigned in Egypt from 1936 until 1952, when he was forced to abdicate after a military coup d'etat on July 23, 1952 (Egyptian revolution of 1952) by a group of young army officers who named themselves "The Free Officers Movement". The revolution was initially aimed at overthrowing King Farouk, however the movement had more political ambitions and soon moved to abolish the constitutional monarchy and establish a republic. The success of the revolution inspired numerous Arab and African countries to remove corrupt regimes. The Egyptian monarchy was seen as both corrupt and pro-British, its lavish lifestyles in sharp contrast to that of the Free Officers, who lived in poverty.

 

Because King Farouk left in a hurry, he left many valuable possessions behind and many Egyptians were surprised at the lavishness of the possessions. Western reporters were allowed to tour one of his palaces and see his lavish possessions which included coin and stamp collections, gems, liquor, cars, clothes and supposedly the largest porn collection at that time (sorry no pictures). Most of his treasures were auctioned off in 1954.

http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/signal/coins/soltaylor021608.html

 

Among the more famous of his possessions was one of the rare 1933 Double Eagle gold coins (world's most valuable coin?), though the coin disappeared for about 40 years before it was seized by the Secret Service during a sting operation. On a side note, that coin has a very interesting history:

http://coins.about.com/od/famousrarecoinprofiles/p/1933_Gold_Eagle.htm

http://www.unmuseum.org/doubleeagle.htm

 

What caught my eye in the newsreel was his collection of (well-thumbed according to one reporter) comics and pulps in his bedroom.

Here's the link to the Time magazine article on Farouk's treasures:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,935662,00.html

 

The 9-25-52 newsreel footage of Farouk's treasures is below.

The Farouk clip begins at 2:49 and the comics & pulps appear at 3:38

 

This is a still image of Farouk's comics & pulps.

 

Here is a slightly better quality picture from a different source.

 

The books shown form an interesting collection and I thought it would be interesting to identify many of the books and I've included thumbnails to prove their identity.

There are two books (J & P) I wasn't able to identify but maybe some of you can help identify them. I really wonder what other books existed in that pile.

 

A- Secret Agent X unknown issue (sample issue shown for reference)

B- Capt Marvel Adventures 66 (2 copies)

C- Future World Comics 1

D- Target Comics 77 jan47

E- Movie Humor Nov 1935

 

F- Lucky 7 Comics

G- All Surprise Comics 10

H- Movie Humor Mar 1936

I- Film Fun Mar 1936

J- Amazing Stories???

 

K- Thrilling Mystery Feb 1936

L- Comedy Comics 32

M- Film Fun Jun 1938

N- Millie the Model Comics 2

O- Gay Comics 24

 

P-

Q- Film Fun Apr 1936

R- All-Winners Comics 19

S- Film Fun Jan 1936

T- The Spider Apr 1937

 

 

I doubt Farouk's comic & pulp collection still exists but wouldn't that be an interesting historical provenance? With the millions of comics printed and the numerous American military personnel and corporate expatriates that lived overseas, it makes one ponder the existence of golden age collections that might still exist outside north america. Didn't an east coast dealer recently sell a large 50's Dell collection found in Cairo Egypt?

 

 

[GermanFan]

I have read about an egyptian GA Collection some time ago.

 

[JvR11]

Interesting stuff. Thanks for posting the history.

[VintageComics]

That is a really interesting find.

 

Sheds some light not only on his collecting interests but also where he stood on his religious beliefs, as some more stalwart Muslims wouldn't allow GGA stuff like that in their homes. Very interesting.

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

I have read about an egyptian GA Collection some time ago.

 

 

I seem to recall a story about golden age comics being sold "second hand" in the Far East - possibly the Phillipines.

[MrBedrock]

I think J is an issue of Blue Bolt but I don't have a Gerber in front of me to check the number.

 

Cool stuff (thumbs u

[jpepx78]

I think you are right Mr Bedrock!

 

J looks like blue bolt 74 Jan 47

 

one more book to go...

 

[adamstrange]

I first heard about Farouk and his collections in a visit to my great uncle when I was a little tyke. He was a retired doctor and had a number of antiquities and precious artifacts strewn about his house that he had picked up in his travels around the world. These were of museum quality and among them were a pair of exquisite carved ivory statues (Chinese, iirc) that had been part of a set of 12 and that came from the Farouk sales. I had hoped that when I grew up I would have a similar collection but all I have are comics.

[catrick339]

My buddy Steve served overseas in the Marines in the 60's and tells stories of finding GA books all over the Middle and Far East while he was stationed at various bases Over There. Evidently cargo ships in the 40's occasionally used unsold magazines as ballast when they sailed from the US.

[markseifert]

My buddy Steve served overseas in the Marines in the 60's and tells stories of finding GA books all over the Middle and Far East while he was stationed at various bases Over There. Evidently cargo ships in the 40's occasionally used unsold magazines as ballast when they sailed from the US.

 

There's always been stories about a lot of great stuff coming out of Hawaii for similar reasons.

[jpepx78]

i found a color picture of farouk's comics & pulps from life magazine:

 

i still can't identify the book in the bottom right (below eyeful). comic or pulp?

 

[MrBedrock]

i found a color picture of farouk's comics & pulps from life magazine:

 

i still can't identify the book in the bottom right (below eyeful). comic or pulp?

That's an issue of Humdinger.

[conditionfreak]

Many Muslim men (just like Christians or what-have-you) do things that is against there religion. Especially behind closed doors. We ALL do. (unless you do not have a religion)

 

Just like the rest of us, this king liked the girlie art. I am sure he wasn't collecting them for future value.

[Comicopolis]

Good stuff - you can't blame a man for collecting the GGA.

[jpepx78]

thank you mrbedrock for solving the mystery that's been puzzling me for a while!

all comics have been identified in the pics!

humdinger #4

 

 

[lou_fine]

That is a really interesting find.

 

Sheds some light not only on his collecting interests but also where he stood on his religious beliefs, as some more stalwart Muslims wouldn't allow GGA stuff like that in their homes. Very interesting.

 

 

Well, it is a safe bet that even with his religious beliefs, King Farouk was probably more into collecting GG's and sampling them in his bed as opposed to just collecting GGA and thumbing through the comics at his bedside.

 

Reminds me a bit of Chairman Mao who always preached to the general population about the evils and taboos of sex, but yet had a never-ending appetite for young virgin girls for himself every night.

 

Something about absorbing the life energy of the younger girls in order to prolong his own life. Must be more science fiction (or fantasy) as opposed to science fact since he died at a relatively young age for a person of his stature.

[VintageComics]

That is a really interesting find.

 

Sheds some light not only on his collecting interests but also where he stood on his religious beliefs, as some more stalwart Muslims wouldn't allow GGA stuff like that in their homes. Very interesting.

 

 

Well, it is a safe bet that even with his religious beliefs, King Farouk was probably more into collecting GG's and sampling them in his bed as opposed to just collecting GGA and thumbing through the comics at his bedside.

 

Reminds me a bit of Chairman Mao who always preached to the general population about the evils and taboos of sex, but yet had a never-ending appetite for young virgin girls for himself every night.

 

Something about absorbing the life energy of the younger girls in order to prolong his own life. Must be more science fiction (or fantasy) as opposed to science fact since he died at a relatively young age for a person of his stature.

 

Yes, it seems that the amount of money or power one has determines often how much of their religion applies. A Mercedes client of mine used to work pretty high up for Coca Cola and was stationed in the Persian Gulf for decades. He got to know many fairly wealthy people in the area. I remember him describing how he was having dinner with a wealthy prince at one time and the prince received a message that his "boxes" were leaking.

 

Turned out that someone had dropped a skid of booze and shattered the bottles. In a land where Alcohol is banned this prince had a limitless supply.

[Comicopolis]

That is a really interesting find.

 

Sheds some light not only on his collecting interests but also where he stood on his religious beliefs, as some more stalwart Muslims wouldn't allow GGA stuff like that in their homes. Very interesting.

 

 

Well, it is a safe bet that even with his religious beliefs, King Farouk was probably more into collecting GG's and sampling them in his bed as opposed to just collecting GGA and thumbing through the comics at his bedside.

 

Reminds me a bit of Chairman Mao who always preached to the general population about the evils and taboos of sex, but yet had a never-ending appetite for young virgin girls for himself every night.

 

Something about absorbing the life energy of the younger girls in order to prolong his own life. Must be more science fiction (or fantasy) as opposed to science fact since he died at a relatively young age for a person of his stature.

 

He was tired.