The Distribution of US Published Comics in the UK (1959~1982) 15 15

[Get Marwood & I]

3 minutes ago, Garystar said:

I’ve taken Marwood’s spreadsheet and added and sorted by release date (taken from Mikes Amazing World of Comics).

If we accept that Patsy Walker, Patsy & Hedy and My Girl Pearl just got dropped, then there seems a bit more consistency, if looking at release date then in all months Marvels were either all UKPV or none were. Of course there is as always a hic-up in May 1960 which has UKPV and non arrivals.

You may see something I'm not, perhaps I'm seeing something not there but I think there is something in release dates rather than cover dates. Might explain why Albert missed some issues as certain release date months appear to have no Marvels.

Nicely done Gary - there's a pattern, isn't there....

[Get Marwood & I]

....another 'J&P':

The Hulk doesn't look to happy about it...

 

Two different sellers, same copy? 

[Garystar]

1 hour ago, Get Marwood & I said:

Two different sellers, same copy? 

Definitely same copy. All the faults, creases and even the ink distribution on stamp are identical. 

[Get Marwood & I]

On 12/3/2020 at 9:07 PM, Albert Tatlock said:

Just found an old book with purchases recorded, all new on the stands at the time:

28 September 1968:  House Of Mystery # 174 (June 1968)

13 December 1968     Strange Adventures # 213 and Adventure #371 (both August 1968)

28 May 1969:              Creeper # 5 and  # 6 (February and April 1969), Showcase # 80 (February 1969), Strange Adventures # 216 and # 217 (January and April 1969)

1 June 1969            Anthro # 5 (April 1969)

Some of these were bimonthlies, with an indicia date a month earlier than cover date.

My recollection is that I expected DCs to be at least 2, and usually 3, months behind cover date.

I have a few more records, roughly along the same lines, and I see that in several cases I bought 2 consecutive issues of the same title from the same shop on the same day, both new arrivals.

Also, there were occasionally new arrivals up to 6 months out of date. Some I already had, those which I did not, I bought. I never worried about missing a DC issue, as I knew it would eventually cross my path, even if I had to buy it second hand. Not all shops received all the titles that I wanted, so I had to travel around, but there were a couple that regularly received a better supply than others, so I headed to those first of all and filled any gaps as and when I could.

 

I checked a few of your books against the plotting of the Action Comics that I did and there were stamp number matches. It helps us establish which slots correlated with actual dates on the ground. You knew those records would come in handy one day didn't you Albert 

[Get Marwood & I]

Here's a nice example - the only one I've seen so far - an RV and RW stamp on the same book:

 

[Get Marwood & I]

And here is a DD#29 set of two - one oblong 10d with bonus shilling stamp, one shilling in a circle on its own:

 

Completely the wrong issue 'hiatus-wise', but who's counting 

[Get Marwood & I]

Here's another example of a T&P stamped magazine - SICK:

   

Some nice half price stamps there too.

There are a few out there with Mr T's favourite diamond logos:

Charming. Numbered too, did you see.

Anyway, thread seems to have a died a death I see, as they all do in the end....

[Garystar]

On 12/9/2020 at 12:32 PM, Get Marwood & I said:

And here is a DD#29 set of two - one oblong 10d with bonus shilling stamp, one shilling in a circle on its own:

 

Completely the wrong issue 'hiatus-wise', but who's counting

These oblong (Gold Star) and circles do turn up outside of the two month hiatus. When I had a go at plotting stamped Marvels these 10d oblong and 1/-circle stamps appeared quite regularly during the two month hiatus Oct-Dec 1966 but a smattering also appeared on UKPVs around that period. I recorded a FF 62, Spider-man 51, Strange Tales 162 and Thor 144. Here's a Spider-man 47 (the hiatus months being #41 and 42);

Edited December 11, 2020 by Garystar

[Garystar]

From UK fanzine Panelologist #3 1975. It suggests T&P forgot to order two months worth of DCs (they were no longer the distributors of Marvels). I don't collect DC so not sure if they did fail to appear. It says returns may turn up later which suggests these were not returns but especially printed for UK (were/would they have been UKPV?) If UKPV it seems odd to me T&P would be ordering month to month and not have a longer term arrangement/contract in place.

[Get Marwood & I]

1 hour ago, Garystar said:

These oblong (Gold Star) and circles do turn up outside of the two month hiatus. When I had a go at plotting stamped Marvels these 10d oblong and 1/-circle stamps appeared quite regularly during the two month hiatus Oct-Dec 1966 but a smattering also appeared on UKPVs around that period. I recorded a FF 62, Spider-man 51, Strange Tales 162 and Thor 144. Here's a Spider-man 47 (the hiatus months being #41 and 42);

That's a nice one Gary, thanks. I found a few others too - here's another couple of Charltons:

 

 

 

[Get Marwood & I]

1 hour ago, Garystar said:

From UK fanzine Panelologist #3 1975. It suggests T&P forgot to order two months worth of DCs (they were no longer the distributors of Marvels). I don't collect DC so not sure if they did fail to appear. It says returns may turn up later which suggests these were not returns but especially printed for UK (were/would they have been UKPV?) If UKPV it seems odd to me T&P would be ordering month to month and not have a longer term arrangement/contract in place.

I saw that clipping too Gary, on the online fanzine portal:

 

If the DC books in question were September and November 1975 then they would have had to have been T&P stamped cents copies as there were no DC UKPVs at that point:

 

I haven't plotted any T&P DCs beyond 1970 so I'm not sure if that gap ever materialised. A task for another day. 

[Get Marwood & I]

1 hour ago, Get Marwood & I said:

A task for another day. 

A quick check of September / November DCs for 1975 shows various T&P 10p stamped examples. If it was cover dates the fanzine was referring to, they seem to have made it. 

[Get Marwood & I]

Meanwhile, back at T&P stamped magazines, here's a rather racy one:

                                                                                            T&P Stamp

                                                                                       RV Series Stamp

                                                                                   Printed UK Price Variant?

[Get Marwood & I]

.....and this one concludes my look at magazines:

So, more than enough examples now to confirm that T&P were importing and stamping other periodicals, the presence of which likely explains why our comics started at an '8'. Or '6', depending on your assessment of the evidence....

[themagicrobot]

Higher up you said this thread was dead. I think there's life in it yet if only I could remember what the thread is about. So, changing the subject back to the T&P Annuals I see an Aquaman one is currently on sales for £260. 

https://www.comicpriceguide.co.uk/lists.php?id=24 says that the Atom one is the rarest but doesn't even have an image of the Mystery in Space one so that must be rare too. Has anyone anywhere listed the contents of these books to confirm if they do contain random issues as with the Double/Double books?

 

[Get Marwood & I]

[Get Marwood & I]

10 minutes ago, themagicrobot said:

Higher up you said this thread was dead. I think there's life in it yet if only I could remember what the thread is about.

I was joking Robot. A finger prod to the absentees 

A summary is on the way, if you've lost your way.

10 minutes ago, themagicrobot said:

So, changing the subject back to the T&P Annuals I see an Aquaman one is currently on sales for £260. 

Yes. BIN, unsold, 8 watchers

10 minutes ago, themagicrobot said:

https://www.comicpriceguide.co.uk/lists.php?id=24 says that the Atom one is the rarest but doesn't even have an image of the Mystery in Space one so that must be rare too.

I may have mentioned once or thrice that the UKCBPG is not to be relied upon.

Here is the full table - I've posted about these in my DC thread:

10 minutes ago, themagicrobot said:

Has anyone anywhere listed the contents of these books to confirm if they do contain random issues as with the Double/Double books?

I have established that copies comprise different issues, yes. Here's an example from the files:

Mystery in Space example A:

Mystery in Space example B:

This is in line with the general observation that these books were randomly populated just like the Double Doubles.

Prices fluctuate - two recent examples:

 

 

Condition plays its part of course (and contents!), but that's still quite a variance. 

[themagicrobot]

But why are they so expensive? Who are collecting these and the Double/Doubles? I think we should be told. No one I know apart from me actively seeks out the oddball stuff as opposed to (yawn!) mainstream Marvels. You can still get UK Atlas Superman Annuals and Marvelman Annuals for £20 or often less.

PS: Perhaps I'm now answering my own question. When the story broke about the 1987 Bunty Annual containing a SF story set in the far-flung future of 2020 when a virus raged across the planet prices on eebygumBay suddenly changed from £1.99 to £250.

[Get Marwood & I]

12 minutes ago, themagicrobot said:

But why are they so expensive? Who are collecting these and the Double/Doubles? I think we should be told. No one I know apart from me actively seeks out the oddball stuff as opposed to (yawn!) mainstream Marvels. You can still get UK Atlas Superman Annuals and Marvelman Annuals for £20 or often less.

Who knows why one thing gains attention and another doesn't. They're nice things in themselves, and have a certain charm to them. And they are comparatively scarce, that is, you'd have a long wait if you tried to build a set. Maybe there are a handful of discerning individuals out there attempting to relive their youth. 90% of what I collect and post about here is universally unloved but then again I've always existed outside of the circle (as tonight's market test is rapidly confirming ). It's all part of the mystery Robot. All part of the fun. 

[themagicrobot]

All part of the fun. Literally 2 minutes ago I decided my next quest would be some pocket sized Batmans.

Other titles are available: http://www.tonystrading.co.uk/galleries/tvbooks/worldadventurelibrary.htm