Collecting Free Gifts pre 1990s

[alanultron5]

I have recently been in another `tussle` on E.Bay for a `Sparky Free Gift` The `Biff-Balloon` from a January 1970. In recent years free gifts in comics have been virtually every week.



I would be most interested in Comics UK members experiences in collecting gifts in the pre 1990s era when such gifts were perhaps only one a year -or in the Dandy & Beano gifts only 1940, 1960 & 1971



Not just Thomsons titles though, Odhams (Smash, Pow, Wham etc) IPC (Lion, Valiant etc) City (TV21) and so on!



I'm interested if folks might only target gifts from one or more publication; or does anyone just go after gifts per say no matter what comic they be from?



Myself, I target `Sparky` free gifts as I am a big fan of that comic. The only time I have strayed is when winning a March 1971 `Dandy Thunderclap` I am also a fan of the Dandy and one day hope to get the March 71 edition to go with the gift!



Have I paid too much on some gifts? Yes! Twice when getting into bidding wars against a fellow who once won all 17 Free gifts put up by `Cardiff Comics` a couple of years ago! I daresay we will lock horns again if any more Sparky Free gifts ever come along.

[philcom55]

I've never bothered too much about collecting free gifts, though back in the day they were a strong incentive to try out new comics. One thing that does occur to me, however, is the fact that items such as rubber balloons will have almost certainly perished with time. How do you deal with this problem?

- Phil R.

[stevezodiac]

I found a Beezer Crack-a-bang type thing the other day in a crate full of comics. I think there has already been a post about free gifts on the forum - a year or two back. My oldest free gift (as I have mentioned several times) is with my copy of Rainbow number 1 from 1914. It is a cardboard house I think that you push out - it is still intact. Probably the last remaining one in the solar system. I have a box full of free gifts here by the computer.

[matrix]

Hi Alan! I have a small collection of free gifts, from Tina, Princess, Princess Tina, Diana, and a couple of odhams. I have also been in a major battle and at times probably paid too much!

I also have some comic club badges included in the scan, one from 'Princess Tina' club, and the other from 'Girls Crystal'.

My favourite has to be the Troll brooch given away with Tina no1 in 1967, it has to be one of the most hideous but at the same time luxurious free gifts, as it is gold plated.

Were there any other gold plated free gifts?

[DavidKW]

I think I have somewhere a 1981 Look-In - the first re-branded one- which still has a metal skull & crossbones gift sello-taped to it (relating to cover stars Adam & The Ants). Don't know if it's worth anything.

Also got inside a couple of 1983 Look-Ins a postcard from a pop star inserted inside (I think I got Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran first then Mike Nolan of Buck's Fizz (cringe!).

Though I was not a regular reader of it, I do remmeber getting myself a Beano in 1977 for a raspberry flavoured Dennis The Menace chew bar after it was advertied in the Beezer (rather disappointed in its lack of flavour - think I amanaged to keep my tooth fillings in place that time).

[alanultron5]

Phil! With my `Flying Snorter` Balloon with No 1 Sparky, I took advice from a friend who has kept party balloons for big `do's` Just put a bit of baby talc inside and gently rub on the outer skin. If Balloon is very dry, a touch of olive oil is applied-left for a few days, then add the talc!.

Matrix, thank you for the photo, that is a lovely collection you have there!

I have a photo of one of my `Sparky` gifts, the `Target Tiddley-Winks` but it wont transfer to this site/thread; a pity as its mint condition and I paid a three figure sum for it (bidding War!.)

[alanultron5]

Steve! your Rainbow Gift; the cardboard house must indeed be a true rarity! I daresay edible gifts must be ultra rare too!

Steve! If ever you discover one of those gifts you have by the computor might be from `Sparky` i'd be most interested- of course if you wish to keep any such, i'd still like to know about it for description in my `Sparky File`.

[felneymike]

I have a load of mint (and I mean mint, they still smell of that "vinegar" smell new paper used to) Victors with the gifts, one of which is a Commando comic that's in better condition that some of the ones I bought myself in the 2000's. Of course, I keep these victors well buried in a dark cupboard. Other gifts include one of those polystyrene gliders with the blue plastic propellor, cardboard press-out medals and football cards.

There's often free gifts that came with DCT's "Big Five" before the war on Ebay. More often than the comics themselves, sometimes!

The oldest gift is in a 6-monthly bound volumes of The Boys' Friend from 1909, which is the publisher's own file volume! It's scenery and characters for making a toy theatre:
http://blog.crystal-knights.co.uk/2012/ ... -coloured/

Not into going out of my way to collect them, though. I want to read the stories!

[stevezodiac]

I'm pretty sure there are no Sparky gifts in my box as I didn't buy it that often. I also have the Victor plastic snap together planes. I don't think the Sparky gave away gifts all that often did it - I can't bring any to mind.

[Lew Stringer]

I've been following this thread and thought I'd drop by just to remind members that I covered a lot of old free gifts (and their relevant comics) on my blog a while back if anyone's interested.

Here's the links again:

http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2010/ ... art-1.html (Which, amongst other gifts, shows the Target Tiddlywinks game from Sparky.)

http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2010/ ... art-2.html

http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2010/ ... art-3.html

http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2010/ ... art-4.html

http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2010/ ... art-5.html

http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2010/ ... art-6.html

http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2010/ ... art-7.html

Also, Derek Marsden's excellent book Free Gifts in the Big Five appears to have been undeservedly forgotten. I believe copies are still available from the author:

http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/ ... -five.html

The subject was also covered on this forum last June:

http://www.comicsuk.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... de+part+1.

Hope that helps.

[matrix]

Thanks for the links Lew.

That's two gold plated free gifts (so far) for girls comics. I guess many years on a swastika charm, and a troll for a brooch, would have a limited market. But as they were plated with gold, in their day, it would make them very classy free gifts?

[alanultron5]

Steve! Sparky gave away more gifts in a nine year period (1965 to 1974) than any other Thomson title! 22 sets of gits in Nine `revamps` and the three weeks it first started. Dandy and Beano free gifts after 1940 were only in 1960 and 71, though they did more later in the 70s. I've only got seven out of 23 Sparky sets so there's lots to get.

Felneymike! Lovely to hear about your `Victors` Very rare to get comics in such condition! Steve Z sold me a batch of early Sparky's a few years ago and they were what I call near mint!

[stevezodiac]

I probably mentioned it to you at the time but I was in the Popular Book Centre in New Cross SE14 when someone brought them in - I had to stop the shopkeeper from putting his dirty great rubber stamp on the front of them all by assuring him I would not be bringing them back once 'dI bought them (what was that all about anyway?)

[alanultron5]

I'm very glad you did too Steve! They are superb! Many thanks! I am trying to get a photo (or two) of my `Gifts` here, Here goes!

No! For some reason I just cannot transfer photos!

[alanultron5]

I have got seven `Sparky` Gifts so far! The Balloon (Flying Snorter) with Issue No1, the `Crack Bang` from 1966 issue 61, the `Target Tiddley-Winks` from issue 141 1967, the `Zoomer Boomerang` issue 212 1969, the `Biff Balloon` issue 261 in 1970 though I think the balloon is not the original.

Then I have the `Whoopee Whistle` issue 261 from 1972 and the `Super Tooter` issue 500 1974.

One rarity with gifts are the bags they sometimes come in! I have such with `Target Tiddley- Winks` the `Biff-Balloon` and `Super Tooter`

Has anyone else got similar bags?