Comics UK

Thank you Kashgar i was not sure if anyone else was as interested in free gifts as i am.
I don't have many pre 1950 comics but i do have most 50s to 80s to go with gifts i started trying to get full runs of comics but cost and storage became a problem so to get a wide range of all comics , kept the ones giving gifts and sold ( after reading ) the others.
Glad you are enjoying them.

It's fascinating to hear of the different collecting strategies people adopt - especially when space is at a premium. This is turning out to be a hugely enjoyable thread: Kashgar and Hen Broon - what a team!

I'm afraid that I just can't get interested in gifts from comics that I never took as a youngster! It has to have `relevance` for me; and I only collect gifts from Sparky, Dandy or Beano in the period I read them! Means i'm only after four Dandy/Beano gifts really!

Hen! Have you ever come across any of the `Sparky` free gifts? I just wondered if I might have bid against you on E.Bay at some time! A few years ago there was a `Mon-El` fellow on E.Bay who used to go after just about any free gift (comics) that came on there. We had a couple of big `tussles` on `Sparky` gifts! He did me on the 1966 `Sparky Spin Buzzer` (I went to £225) but I bested him on the 1967 `Target Tiddleywinks` which I got for £295. Both were pristine condition and from the same seller (Cardiff Comics) who told me that the original owner had kept the gifts for close on 50 years without ever using/playing with, them! My `Target Tiddleywinks` is MINT!

Back on thread a bit. And as we have hit 1963; I think there were three more DCT titles to come - best-for me was `Sparky` in 1965 (HUZZAH!! ) then in early 1967; another girls title "Mandy" and finally in early 1968, a comic for pre-school girls, "Twinkle" Apologies to Ray-Kashgar if I have pre-emptied him!

Not in the least 'pre-emptied' Alan. Nice to see enthusiasm for the thread.

Now on with 1964

In 1964 Thomsons published 624 issues of juvenile publications across 12 titles. (I have not included Jackie which was first published on Jan 11th complete with its Twin Heart Love Ring as I consider this more of a teen magazine. Similarly I didn't include Cherie which was first published in Oct 1960 with its Lucky Love Locket and photo of Cliff Richard as again, like Romeo before it, I didn't consider this a juvenile title but if anyone wants to post on these three titles here please feel free to do so).
Of the twelve titles I am including the only two who failed to give away anything in 1964 were Dandy and Beano while the other ten titles between them included thirty free gift issues.

Very much enjoying these `free gift` threads Ray! It would be nice to know which `gifts` were part of `Telly` promotions! I know for a fact that `Sparky` not just in its initial launch - but all its subsequent gift/promotions were given children s hour TV `ads` As was the `Dandy` promotion in early 1971 when it added 4 pages to its size! I recall those two ads indeed!

I know that one early 1960s girls comic advert for its free gift promotion `does` exist- the archive television group (The folks behind `the `Big Centre` TV station regional, West Mids only) `Do` have this advert. Its either `Bunty` or `Judy` I asked if they might have the `Sparky` one's-but seemingly not!

I once saw a couple of early 60s comic/gift ads used (or `perveted`) into Victor Lewis-Smith's short lived TV compilation! Sadly, he overdubbed the original dialogue with rather smutty innuendo!

Sorry Alan, I can't really help with your queries re TV promotions for the Thomson free gifts. You seem to be doing rather well tracking down details on your own.

1964 Free Gifts

Topper

No 574(1/2/64) The Roaring Soaring Fun Toy
No 575(8/2/64) The Thunderclap

Beezer

No 457(17/10/64) Bubble and Squeak
No 458(24/10/64) The Whirly Whizzer

On a personal note these were two free gifts I really felt the need to track down as they were the first two free gifts I distinctly remember getting as a child when I was seven years old. There could have been earlier ones but these were the two that have stuck in my memory.

Bunty

No 348(12/9/64) Perky Pet Brooch
No 349(19/9/64) The Ladybird Ring

Hotspur

No 256(12/9/64) The Red Rocket Twirler
No 257(19/9/64) The Wing-Ding Glider

Judy

No 211(25/1/64) Forget-me-Not Necklace
No 212(1/2/64) The Golden Gleam Ring

Victor

No 152(18/1/64) The Victor Boomerang
No 153(25/1/64) The Spinning Puzzler

Bimbo

No 151(1/2/64) The Magic Drawing Toy
No 152(8/2/64) Bimbo's Club Badge
No 182(5/9/64) Bimbo's Magic Mini-Colour Paints
No 183(12/9/64) A Bimbo Book for Colouring

Diana

No 53(22/2/64) The Blue Stone Ring
No 54(29/2/64) The Rainbow Book of Stars
No 86(10/10/64) The Golden Butterfly Bangle
No 87(17/10/64) Diana's ABC of Dancing Wall Chart Pt I
No 88(24/10/64) Diana's ABC of Dancing Wall Chart Pt II

Hornet

No 23(15/2/64) The Hornet Wallet Of International Cup Teams + 4 colour photos
No 24(22/2/64-26(7/3/64) 3x4 team photos for wallet
No 56(3/10/64) The Speedo Glider
No 57(10/10/64) The Zoom Gun

Rover & Wizard

(24/10/64) Top Teams of 1964
(31/10/64) Top Footballers of 1964
(7/11/64) Big Moments of 1964

Topper , Beezer and Bimbo comics free gifts 1964 sorry can't find Bimbo badge

Some 1964 Bunty and Diana Comic free gifts

Victor , Hornet and Hotspur comics free gifts 1964

Rover & Wizard comic 1964 free gifts and Bimbo badge found it hope you like

Jackie #1 and Cherie #1 free gifts if anyone is interested