LION

One of the great long-running British comics, stuffed full of good strips and characters. Always appearing on eBay UK as single comics but not often in big runs or complete years. Early issues (ie right through the 1950s) suffer from rusty staples most if not all of the time so ones without rust are desirable and unusual to say the least.

Free gift on issue #1 is a Sport Stars in Action album and adds £30-£50 to the value. In early 2007 Comic Book Postal Auctions sold issue #1 with gift for £132, #2 with gift for £77 and #3 in FN- for £44. COMPAL also sold a #1 VG with free gift for £133 in their Summer 2008 catalogue. A #1 in Poor/Good sold on eBay UK for £11.06 Oct 2008. A VG #1 with cut out panels and staple reinforcement sold for £23 Dec 2008. Note: In Mar 2010 what I think is the top price paid for a Lion #1 plus gift was £285.78 on eBay UK.

Like Buster, there was a healthy membership of the Lion Club where published letters got badges and that kind of thing (see ilustration of a sample letter and types of badges).Note: 1st Lion & Champion (11th Jun 1966), 1st Lion & Eagle (3rd May 1969).

Big thanks to Steven Adamson for some great free gift pictures and Phil Shrimpton for some great covers.

A promotional flyer advertising Lion #1 fetched £345 on eBay UK in mid 2011.

A full size advertising poster was offered by phil comics in Jan 2024.

Feb 2024: Comic Book Postal Auctions sold a set of #1-50 with the free gifts for #1, #2, #31 and #32 for £464 inc 19% Buyer's fee. Seemed a very good deal to me!