British Pence Variants

[r100comics]

Not sure if you had them elsewhere, but we had Popular Book Centre in London around this time who dealt in US/UK magazines and comics.

 

Pretty grotty places looking back, but for a young kid they were

 

 

[nmtg9]

We had a shop in Middlesbrough that sold videos and posters upstairs and comics downstairs. I loved the shop but it was shut down for selling porn.

[gaz973]

DD143 was from 1977 and the Marvel 2in1 ann1 from 1976.

 

Looks like the shop you were in was one of those wonderful old shops that had lots of comics in - you just dont find them anymore over here (outside the evil FP of course) (thumbs u

 

FP isn't a shop with lots of comics in any more.

[Comicopolis]

We had a shop in Middlesbrough that sold videos and posters upstairs and comics downstairs. I loved the shop but it was shut down for selling porn.

 

There was more than one of those types of shops in the Boro.

[nmtg9]

DD143 was from 1977 and the Marvel 2in1 ann1 from 1976.

 

Looks like the shop you were in was one of those wonderful old shops that had lots of comics in - you just dont find them anymore over here (outside the evil FP of course) (thumbs u

 

FP isn't a shop with lots of comics in any more.

 

 

[nmtg9]

We had a shop in Middlesbrough that sold videos and posters upstairs and comics downstairs. I loved the shop but it was shut down for selling porn.

 

There was more than one of those types of shops in the Boro.

 

Still is

[porcupine48]

My one prehero 9d

[Ken Aldred]

Not sure if you had them elsewhere, but we had Popular Book Centre in London around this time who dealt in US/UK magazines and comics.

 

Pretty grotty places looking back, but for a young kid they were

There used to be a shop in Manchester city centre, which sounds like this kind of thing.

 

The basement had absolutely loads of unbagged pence copies just stuffed randomly into boxes, and the air felt kind of dampish, far from optimal storage conditions for maintaining the stock in high grade.

 

I only went there once because the manager seemed pretty obnoxious, making a really bad first impression on me. I inquired about the grade of one of his books, to which he replied, sarcastically, 'That's not for me to say, that's something for you to ascertain', then just smirked, snorted and walked off.

 

Same guy was also responsible for pricing the books downstairs. You'd pass a few comics to him, quick sneer back at you, followed by a formulaic "Well, we'll say (insert ridiculous price)", and then he'd just walk off upstairs again. That got tedious very, very quickly indeed. As an example, Howard the Duck 4 in VF for £2, and this was 1980.

 

I didn't buy anything and, being there with friends who were becoming just as rapidly disheartened, I couldn't wait for everyone to finish and just get out of the sorry place.

[Kahnadah]

I had these, but sold them:

 

And I still have these (but not for long, gave up on the run in pence/cents):

James

[EwanUK]

Great thread.

I really like pence copies, true variants and a lot scarcer than geneally appreciated. I love the charm of the early 60s Marvel 'd' covers.

 

So when did the pence issues begin and end? is there a list out there?

 

P.S. I grew up in Leeds in the 70s and 80s. Before Odyssey (eventually another FP) opened in Harrison Street in (I think) late 1985, there were 2 main shops, the famous Skyrack in Merrion Market and a shop on Vicar Lane that sold comics, underground comix, mags and tons of porn!!! I forget its name and to be honest, I was only 13 in 1985 so cared more for the comics.

In my mind's eye, the owner of the shop was Dez Skinn circa 1978 - nice guy but smoked heavily over everything. I remember buying musty 2000ADs off him - and they had a basement with loads of Treasury sized comics in.

There were also great comic marts at the Griffin Hotel just down the road.

 

Anyway, here's some of mine...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[porcupine48]

when I get my ASM 1 I want it to be a beauty like that one.So very cool.

[nmtg9]

Ewan, I am the same age and was in Leeds from 1983 onwards.

 

I remember Odyssey and Skyrack but not the one of Vicar Lane. Probably passed you in the shops every Saturday and I loved the Griffin marts.

 

Pence issues started Oct/Nov 1959 but I am not sure exactly when they stopped. Probably around 1980ish when they started having all three (US UK Canada) prices on the front.

[r100comics]

In my mind's eye, the owner of the shop was Dez Skinn circa 1978 - nice guy but smoked heavily over everything.

 

I thought Dez Skinn was at Quality Comics in New Cross, SE London then ? The shop was formerly Weird Fantasy, so perhaps he only took over with the name change ?

[EwanUK]

when I get my ASM 1 I want it to be a beauty like that one.So very cool.

 

Many thanks - it's the one comic I'm definitely keeping for my children.

I actually bought it for - a very small price - with these other 3 off ebay in 2007....

 

 

I recognised it was coverless ASM 1 - but when it arrived (wrapped in cellophane) the cover was most definitely attached but folded over - and had the colours and brightness you can see.

 

p.s. like your cat, mine's very similar - Louie - indignant on the couch...

 

 

 

[EwanUK]

Ewan, I am the same age and was in Leeds from 1983 onwards.

 

I remember Odyssey and Skyrack but not the one of Vicar Lane. Probably passed you in the shops every Saturday and I loved the Griffin marts.

 

Pence issues started Oct/Nov 1959 but I am not sure exactly when they stopped. Probably around 1980ish when they started having all three (US UK Canada) prices on the front.

 

Fab - well, Leeds was a great place to be... still is...

 

The porn shop was actually on Boar Lane (not Vicar lane) opposite Lewis's or M&S (can't remember) it eventually moved to Brigate near St John's Church but must have closed years ago.

 

This is the old Odyssey place in Harrison Street now a trendy wig shop !!

I distinctly remember -

Opening night - X-Factor no.1 sold out

Meeting Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons on the 1987 Watchmen Tour

The owner was called "Davod"

Buying several 2000AD Prog 500s

Selling them my DKR no.1-3 for £35

Not making the Dave Sim Cerebus signing as I was at school...

 

ah the days...

 

Fav thing was new comics were sold to you in comic sized PAPER bags !

 

[EwanUK]

In my mind's eye, the owner of the shop was Dez Skinn circa 1978 - nice guy but smoked heavily over everything.

 

I thought Dez Skinn was at Quality Comics in New Cross, SE London then ? The shop was formerly Weird Fantasy, so perhaps he only took over with the name change ?

 

yes mate he was - I meant just that kind of guy - big collars, hair slicked back, constant cig in mouth, selling dodgy underground comix to 14 year old boys

 

Speaking of London, I was lucky enough to visit the original Forbidden Planet 1 & 2 in Denmark Street in probably 1985 or 1986? Nothing like the corporate monster we have these days...

 

Torquemeda makes a visit

 

Douglas Adams & Nick Landau (Tharg)

looks at all those 12p Marvel pence variants in the rack!

 

 

 

 

[Eggman]

I love pence comics too. Trying to find old SA keys is not that easy. I'm looking for Strange Tales 110 right now (and open to other keys) in lower condition. Here's a couple that I have that I love:

 

 

[Ken Aldred]

The branch of Odyssey in Leeds was centrally located and convenient, the original shop in Manchester was in the university district about a mile or so south of the city centre, and a PITA to get to if you lived north of the city, because at the time there was no direct public transport connection. The owner told me that they were aware it was a trek for many people to get down there, which was the main reason for the shop's name.

 

Eventually I found it much easier on all counts to buy import comics once a month from the central Piccadilly Plaza marts. The boardies would've liked those in the late 70s, loads of UHG pence copy back issues there as well, of course. From 1980 to 1985, I also regularly attended the Golden Orbit marts at the Griffin Hotel, which you mentioned earlier. Great fun.

[gaz973]

My most expensive pence copy.

[OveraboundingMint]

DD143 was from 1977 and the Marvel 2in1 ann1 from 1976.

 

Looks like the shop you were in was one of those wonderful old shops that had lots of comics in - you just dont find them anymore over here (outside the evil FP of course) (thumbs u

 

 

Marvel two in one annual 2, to me then, it was like some kind of gorilla-faced super villain lifting Spiderman up over a defeated Thing and lots of superheroes's faces on the side. Didn't know why but at that time my childhood eyes were only glued on those 3 books and oblivious to everything else up there that were clipped.

 

I would love to get my hands on every single 70s issue of the Defenders, X-men, Avengers, F4, Invaders and Marvel Two-in One. But the 70s pence Defenders and X-men are always top priority to me.