As part of the second auction of Peter Hansen’s collection, Excalibur Auctions have some original artwork by Frank Bellamy in amongst some fascinating pieces of UK comic history! I've spent a very pleasant hour browsing the whole auction. But here are the Bellamy highlights with links to the individual lots below this article:
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| Eagle Vol. 9: 47 (22 November 1958) |
DAVID THE SHEPHERD KING (Lot #85)
The auctioneers have described it thus:
FRANK BELLAMY - Original comic book art for EAGLE volume 9 #47 (1956 [sic]) by FRANK BELLAMY - ‘The Shepherd King’ Episode 11
56cm x 42cm (V)
As you can see it's VERY faded. This appeared originally in Eagle Volume 9 number 47 (22 November 1958). Here are the other images Excalibur have provided:
SOUTHERN RAILWAY POSTER
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| Southern Railway poster c.1935 |
Described as:
FRANK BELLAMY - Southern Railway Poster Artwork, 'South for Sunshine' painted by Frank A Bellamy, for an RAAS competition, c.1935, original artwork in poster paint on hardboard, 42'' x 27''; as a competition entry, it is believed that this design was not used by the Southern Rail. This is an early example of Bellamy’s work, before he became a well known comic book illustrator. This poster underwent some conservation in 2013, and all the paperwork is still include[d] which details all the work undertaken.
I've written about this back in 2012 and David Jackson guessed that this might be Olivia de Havilland in 2016!
Here are the other photos supplied, preserved for posterity
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| Bellamy's home address before marriage |
ROBIN HOOD ILLUSTRATION
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| Robin Hood illustration |
FRANK BELLAMY - A character study of Robin Hood, a story which Bellamy drew for the weekly British comic book SWIFT throughout the 1950s, pen and ink on board, 29cm x 20cm
This certainly is familiar as I wrote about it in 2013, thanks to Simon Osborne, so I guess it sold privately to Peter Hansen as it looks the same! Where Excalibur say "throughout the 1950s", that should read, for the record, Bellamy drew the comic strip "Robin Hood and his Merry Men" + "Robin Hood and Maid Marian" from 12 May 1956 - 23 February 1957 in the Swift comic.
Here are the other images shared
AFFINITY MAGAZINE COVER
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| Affinity #29 (June 1950) |
FRANK BELLAMY - Original cover art for AFFINITY (Love Stories) #29 June / July 1950, a short running UK publication by Gerald G Swan, 40cm x 26cm
Here are the other images from the auction:
ROBIN HOOD COMIC STRIP from SWIFT Vol.3:49 (8 December 1956)
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| Swift Vol.3:49 (8 December 1956) |
FRANK BELLAMY - Original comic book art for SWIFT volume 3 #49 (1956, Hulton Press) by FRANK BELLAMY - ‘Robin Hood’ Episode 31 54cm x 39cm
The blank spaces below the comic strip are there for the libretto text so Mummys and Daddys could read to their children whilst the kids looked at the images.
Here are the other images
There's a Buyer's premium of 27% on each of these if bidding directly on Excalibur's site. When I see the results I'll add them here and also to the usual spreadsheet.
DAVID THE SHEPHERD KING- EAGLE Vol. 9:47 (Lot 85)
WHERE?: Excalibur Auctions
Estimate: £-
ENDING PRICE: £280
END DATE: 9 May 2026
SOUTHERN RAILWAY POSTER (Lot 447)
WHERE?: Excalibur Auctions
Estimate: £-
ENDING PRICE: £220
END DATE: 9 May 2026
ROBIN HOOD ILLUSTRATION (Lot 448)
WHERE?: Excalibur Auctions
Estimate: £-
ENDING PRICE: £320
END DATE: 9 May 2026
AFFINITY magazine cover (Lot 449)
WHERE?: Excalibur Auctions
Estimate: £-
ENDING PRICE: £95
END DATE: 9 May 2026
ROBIN HOOD Swift Vol.3:49, 8 December 1956 (Lot 450)
WHERE?: Excalibur Auctions
Estimate: £-
ENDING PRICE: £550
END DATE: 9 May 2026
6 comments:
Some nice stuff there, NB. I don't think I have any original Bellamy art (used to have some Hampson), but published images will do for me. I'd have nowhere to hang these pages anyway.
You "don't think", Kid????? Surely you'd know?
I would've at one time, NB, but sadly my memory isn't what it once was. I've got so much stuff, I've forgotten owning most of it until I lay eyes on it again. You wouldn't believe the amount of times I've bought something only to find I already had it. And as I was never a huge fan of Bellamy's art to begin with (his Thunderbirds failed to impress), it's not altogether impossible I might have something of his which I've forgotten. I don't think I have, but I didn't want to completely rule out the faint possibility in case I was wrong.
Following your own blog, I'd say you remember an awful lot more about specifics than I do. I read an academic book recently, due to my family having some 'false memories' and memory is a fascinating topic and thus I keep all my info so I can prove anything I say on this blog! There's enough errors out there without me adding to them! Thanks for writing ~Norman
Just so you know Norman, I'm now the proud owner of that wonderfully elegant Robin Hood study; do you have any idea what Frank drew it for? I could be wrong but to me the style seems a bit more mature than his Swift strips - though it would have made sense if it was drawn at the same time. My guess (and it's only a guess) is that Marv Wolfman's slighter cruder image came first, then Frank redrew it in colour at a later date. I would have liked the 'David' page as well but I sat back expecting the bidding to go well over a thousand pounds in spite of the drastic fading, then when I realized it was actually going to sell for under £300 I desperately tried to place a bid - but just too late! I'd have loved to attempt a restoration.
How exciting! I saw the auction and noted the prices for the items sold. I hope you'll scan your latest acquisition and I'd love a copy for the archives, if you do.
I don't know when this was drawn but know the previous owner was Simon Osborne. Mike Noble used tracing paper masters to draw commissions of the same/similar pieces and this is the only instance I know of where Frank drew a similar pose for someone. He was always concerned about deadlines so one would expect him to have followed Mike's lead, but maybe - as usual - he was meticulous - even at not copying himself! Thanks for sharing.
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