D C Thomson free gifts - the 1960's

[alanultron5]

"Tilly the Tudor! "Alf the Apparition" "Bertie the Bat" collected the lot! Wish i'd held on to them!

Back on topic (sort of!) would Bunty comic in 1958 be the first to have its No 1 issue and gift advertised on telly? When Beezer came out in early 1956, only A.B.C and Redifussion (London weekday & weekend regions) were up and running! be great to know which DCT title debuted on television!

Oh Lew! you put up a great link to 1960 advert of Beano gift the "Flying Snorter" that's the one Beano gift that Phil Shrimpton (Phil Comics) is still looking for! I hope he finds one soon.

[Kashgar]

1963

In 1963 Thomsons published 627 issues, of thirteen juvenile titles, of which 32 contained a free gift. The year saw us say goodbye to Wizard as a separate entity but this was compensated for by the arrival of the new boys' picture paper Hornet while the girl's titles Bunty and Judy were joined by Diana.
Of the thirteen titles published in 1963 four failed to give away any free gifts at all Dandy, Beano, Topper and Beezer the first time since 1957 that none of the comic 'Big Four' failed to produce a free gift.

[Kashgar]

1963

Rover & Adventure

(2/2/63) 63 Motor Cars of 1963 - The Wonder Photo Album + sheet of stickyback picture
(9/2/63)-(2/3/63) 4x1 stickyback sheet of pictures for album.

Rover

(16/11/63) The Ace Album of Britain's Football Stars + sheet of stickyback pictures

Rover & Wizard

(23/11/63)-(7/12/63) 3x1 stickyback sheet of pictures for album

Wizard

No 1970(16/11/63) The Ace Album of Britain's Football Stars + sheet of stickyback pictures (this is exactly the same gift as that given away the same week in the Rover)

[Kashgar]

Bunty

No 300(12/10/63) Pretty Party Bracelet
No 301(19/10/63) My Own Diary

Hotspur (ceased to be New Hotspur with No173)

No 209(19/10/63) The Two-in-One Gun
No 210(26/10/63) Two Scale Model Airliners ( choice of Brittania, Boeing 707 and Comet)

Judy

No 158(26/1/63) The Good Luck Kitty Bangle
No 159(2/2/63) Cameo Charm Ring

Victor

No 99(12/1/63) Football Record Chart
No 100(19/1/63) Football Favourites in Action booklet

[Kashgar]

Diana

No 1(23/2/63) Golden Charm Bracelet with Red Butterfly Charm
No 2(2/3/63) 2 Lucky Charms (Horseshoe, Ballerina)
No 3(9/2/63) 2 Lucky Charms (Foal, Four Leaf Clover)
No 31(21/9/63) The Rainbow Ring
No 32(28/9/63) The Diana Book of Singing and Dancing

Hornet

No 1(14/9/63) Kestrel Glider
No 2(21/9/63) Catapult Skimmer
No 3(28/9/63) Fast Action Football booklet
No 4(5/10/63) Great Goals! Great Tries! photo book.

[Kashgar]

Incidentally that Flyer Hart strip book in New Hotspur sounds like a really desirable item - especially as picture strips by the wonderful Iam Mackay were so few and far between!

It is a nice little item Phil in exactly the same format as the 'Girl of the Islands' booklet given away in Bunty in 1958. You are quite right about the dearth of Ian Mackay picture strips and I think that is why I sometimes get the title of the 'Flyer Hart' book confused with 'The Phantom Flyer' which was another WWII flying strip that Ian Mackay drew for the New Hotspur in 1960.

[Adam Eterno]

Hornet

No 1(14/9/63) Kestrel Glider
No 2(21/9/63) Catapult Skimmer
No 3(28/9/63) Fast Action Football booklet
No 4(5/10/63) Great Goals! Great Tries! photo book.

I still need the glider but it was so expensive last time it came up! I have the 4 comics and the other 3 gifts.......just the glider to go...

[Hen Broon]

Pictures of some nice 60s free gifts,I was always a bit confused why Dennis was on the Victor free gift envelope.
Hope you like

[Hen Broon]

Pictures of some nice 60s girls comic free gifts

[Hen Broon]

More 60s free gift pictures , hope you like

[Digifiend]

Pictures of some nice 60s free gifts,I was always a bit confused why Dennis was on the Victor free gift envelope.
Hope you like

Cross promotion? Could've been a way of saying "Beano fans, buy this!"

[alanultron5]

By now- DCT surely taking out `air time` on ITV to promote the gifts. There does exist a early 60s `Bunty` I think- add that was broadcast in either 1964 or 65. I always hoped that adds that publicised Sparky's debut might turn up someday.

[philcom55]

Those are very impressive images Hen - you must have an amazing collection! The envelopes in particular must be extremely rare.

[Hen Broon]

Thank you Phil, I do have a quite a large collection of comic free gifts mostly from 50s to 80s with quite a few of DCT big five from 30s though i am still on the hunt for many more.
If there is anything you would like to see a picture of i would be happy to help if i can

[Kashgar]

Thanks for posting all the illos Hen. They have certainly added a great deal to this thread. Similarly thanks to Phil, Adam, Lew, Alan, Derek etc for your input. It is much appreciated.
By the way Hen do you collect the papers that contained the free gifts as well or are you happy just to have the gifts themselves?