Following up on some earlier posts it would be great to work out which issues of which comics advertised the first British appearance of Superman in 1939. Being a bit of a nerd for this sort of thing, I compiled an index of advertisements in the Gem for the second half of 1939, and here it is. Came across just one showing Superman, plus some great fireworks adverts and one for a Mickey Mouse card game.
The GEM Advertising Index (second half of 1939)
1638 (07/08/39)
21 – Magnet
23 – Schoolboys Own Library
1639 (07/15/39)
21 – Modern Boy
22 – Boys Friend Library
23 – Magnet
29 - Schoolboys Own Library
1640 (07/22/39)
21 – Schoolboys Own Library
23 – Magnet
1641 (07/29/39)
21 – Schoolboys Own Library
17 – Modern Boy
1642 (08/02/39)
17 – The King’s Navy
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
1643 (08/12/39)
21 – Modern Boy
27 – Boys Friend Library
1644 (08/19/39)
21 – Modern Boy
33 – Magnet
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
1645 (08/26/39)
21 – Magnet
28 – Modern Boy
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
1646 (09/02/39)
17 – Magnet
29 – Brock’s Fireworks Club
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
1647 (09/09/39)
17 – Greyfriars Holiday Annual
29 – Brock’s Fireworks Club
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
1648 (09/16/39)
17 – Mickey Mouse ‘Mickey’s Fun Fair’ game
26 – Sexton Blake Card Game
29 – Brock’s Fireworks Club
34 – Boys Friend Library
1649 (09/23/39)
17 – Popular Book of Boys’ Stories
33 – Brock’s Fireworks Club
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
1650 (09/30/39)
27 – Modern Boys Annual
29 – Brock’s Fireworks Club
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
1651 (10/ 07/39)
17 – Mickey Mouse ‘Mickey’s Fun Fair’ game
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
1652 (10/14/39) – first Biggles South Sea Adventure
17 – Greyfriars Holiday Annual
28 – Boys Friend Library
1653 (10/21/39)
16 – Mickey Mouse ‘Mickey’s Fun Fair’ game
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
1654 (10/28/39)
16 – Modern Boys’ Book of Racing Cars
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
1655 (11/04/39)
16 – Modern Boys’ Annual
29 – Boys Friend Library
1656 (11/11/39)
16 – Mickey Mouse ‘Mickey’s Fun Fair’ game
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
36 - Magnet
1657 (11/18/39)
16 – Greyfriars Holiday Annual
26 – Triumph (no mention of Superman)
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
36 - Magnet
1658 (11/25/39)
17 – Modern Boys’ Book of Racing Cars
22 – Triumph (with Superman lifting a car cover)
34 – Schoolboys Own Library
1659 (12/02/39)
17 – Greyfriars Holiday Annual
21 – Triumph (no mention of Superman)
28 – Schoolboys Own Library
1660 (12/09/39)
17 – full page ad for annuals
21 – Triumph (mentions Superman, but not a Superman cover)
29 – Schoolboys Own Library
1661 (12/16/39) – Grand Xmas Number
17 – full page ad for annuals
23 – Boys Friend Library
28 – Triumph (no mention of Superman)
1662 (12/23/39)
17 – full page ad for annuals
23 – Schoolboys Own Library
29 – Triumph (no mention of Superman)
1663 (12/30/39) – final issue
2 – Modern Boys’ Annual
18-19 – double page announcing Gem will combine with Triumph (no mention of Superman)
30 – Schoolboys Own Library
36 – Triumph (no mention of Superman)