Free! I'm just not quite sure what....

The good Captain Martin Campbell ran his own philatelic empire from Sussex offering "free! 30 USA".  Sending in a 4 1/2 d stamp was money well spent. Here is a link to 29 Palatine Road, Goring by Sea, Sussex in Google maps in case you wanted to know where your money went.

The Old Badger must be rolling in it. I never joined the young Badger's Stamp Club, as run by the Old Badger, but I heard it was rollicking good fun. Most important of course was parental approval in those days. Please note the lack of overwrought, fine print legal documents to receive that consent. Sadly I could find no current information concerning Badgers House in Lancing, Sussex.

War Picture Library Advertising - The Royal Navy

How long did it take for Royal Navy recruiters to realise that there was a vast audience of potential recruits sitting out there reading pocket war comics?  The recruiters thought they must have hit upon a gold mine of impressionable lads when they started to advertise in Fleetway Publications.

The Royal Navy needs you!

This advertisement comes from December 1967 and adorns the inside front cover of War Picture Library 412 Murder Charge. Now modern day marketing types would flinch at positioning the Royal Navy next to a title like that. There would be an uproar and the inevitable trial by social media. No doubt the marketing types in 1967 were made of sterner stuff than their modern day counterparts.

You would think that after 44 years that the recruitment strategy for the Royal Navy would be vastly different - but a quick look at the website for Royal Navy careers tells you that things haven't really changed all that much.

...go for the life that has action and adventure. 

War Picture Library Advertising - Royal Navy

How long did it take? The Royal Navy needs you! The recruiters thought they must have hit upon a gold mine of impressionable lads when they started to advertise in Fleetway Publications.

This advertisement comes from December 1967 and adorns the inside front cover of War Picture Library 412 Murder Charge. Now modern day marketing types would flinch at positioning the Royal Navy next to a title like that. There would be an uproar and the inevitable trial by social media. No doubt the marketing types in 1967 were made of sterner stuff than their modern day counterparts.

You would think that after 44 years that the recruitment strategy for the Royal Navy would be vastly different - but a quick look at the website for Royal Navy careers tells you that things haven't really changed all that much.

...go for the life that has action and adventure.

War Picture Library Advertising - Stamps

The First Space Stamp! This is another reason to build that time machine. I had a very quick search of the internet and I could not match the picture of the First Space Stamp shown in this advertisement to anything I could find online. However during my search I did discover that if you have a stack of French Antarctica stamps lying around they could be worth something (not necessarily a lot but at least something). Also isn't it kind of wonderful how French Antartica 'that 'fantastic new country' can appear in the same sentence with the Red China Liberation Imperforate' and both only a few lines away from the Boy Scout Jamboree sheet.

On other matters...

So if there's a Lot P2 - does that mean that there's also a Lot P1 or is there a Lot P3 coming up?

Also look at the prices! There must have been a lot of profit margin in stamps for the folk from Denmark Hill.

War Picture Library Advertising

If I've understood this correctly all I have to do to receive one of these great gifts is to address a letter (I assume) to the Bridgnorth Stamp Co, C/- (M), Bridgnorth, Shropshire.
I will then receive in return one offer (from the six listed options) absolutely free.
I've told my mum and dad.
I've enclosed a 3d stamp for the return postage.
I'm even going to cough up some extra from my hard earned lolly for some extra items.
I have an envelope.
And a pen.
I'm very excited.
I'm really looking forward to those 9 triangular stamps and making sure that those 133 all different stamps are indeed all different. However should I request a stamp album or the 10 Olympic and sports stamps? Decisions decisions.
This stamp advertisement is on the back cover of War Picture Library 136 Last Ditch, published 1962.
In any event Bridgnorth looks like a nice place to visit.

War Picture Library Advertising - Muscles Made Easy!

When Charles Atlas stayed in England he like nothing better than to bunk down with his chums of Department 250-S at their very salubrious London address in Chitty Street. Sadly there doesn't seem to be a lot going on there today.

As the master of Dynamic Tension he helped a generation of pastey white  kids grow into muscle bound and tanned demi-gods ready to take a firm grip on their own wrists and the rest of the world.

Just think in only 32 pages and 7 days you too could have a "strong, healthy body crammed with live, rippling handsome muscles".

It's good to see the good work started by Charles Atlas all those years ago still goes on today.

This advertisement is from the back outside cover of War Picture Library 99 Spearhead, published in May 1961.

War Picture Library Advertising - Super Libraries Promotion

XWKCRZP43X65 That's it pals (chums, mates, chaps and buddies, if that were translated into 'now' speak I guess that would at least become bros and besties) have a look at the new wonder value super libraries.

There are some great looking titles in there - however one does scare me a little and that's The Animator -featuring the Fleetway superhero The Spider. Just have a closer look at the picture on the left an you'll see what I mean.

He's the kind of guy that like to wear tights, ankle length red boots and what appears to be some kind of dual mounted dispensers worn openly on his chest. Whatever happened to him?

Well he lives on and is published in Tamil - no less!

This promotional advertisement comes from the inside front cover of War Picture Library 391 Old Warrior.

Battle Picture Library Advertising - Stamps

Have you ever wondered why 116 stamps in return and not 115? Needless to say I'm yet to collect a Battle, War or Air Ace Picture Library with the coupon to Broadway Approvals carefully removed from the back cover. Someone must have done it! If you're out there please get in contact.

This advertisement is from the back cover of Battle Picture Library 122 Hold Until Relieved.

For those interested in this kind of thing, here's a link to 50 Denmark Hill now on Google Map. Do you think the guy holding the Subway sign is really the front man for a vast underground stamp trading empire still operating from behind those iron garage door grills?

What would happen if you went up to this man and asked for Lot P25? What would happen if you went up to him and asked him for Lot P26?

So many questions.

War Picture Library Advertising - Dramatic All Action

War Picture Library 78 Aces High published (Dec 1960) has this advertisement on the back cover.

It is interesting to note the subscription pricing. For some reason it is cheaper to receive a War Picture Library comic if you are from Overseas or Canada. Whereas if you lived in the the United Kingdom simply (and beautifully) referred to as Home it costs more.

I've also done some research through Measuring Worth.com and discovered that in today's currency the subscription would cost about 51.50 GBP or 82.90 USD or 81.77 AUD or 60.13 Euro.

In other words the cost to have 48 issues delivered to your door per issue would be as follows;
1.07 GBP, 1.73 USD, 1.70 AUD and 1.25 Euro.

Another reason to build that time machine.

War Picture Library Comic Book Advertising

You know it's a top issue when you can't stop using "top" as a superlative. In some circles Sir Bobby Charlton is still the absolute soccer superstar and if he was in the midst of his then stellar career now - he would be earning an absolute motza, living in L.A., be the target of the paparazzi, and have every moment of his personal and professional life under close scrutiny for all of us to enjoy...

Just like Bobby, Roy of the Rovers is still kicking around and judging from his website he's decidedly beefed up to take on the 21st Century.

I understand that all that top work by Roy in Tiger allowed him to eventually spin out into his own publication.

This advertisement appeared on the inside cover of War Picture Library  56 The Crowded Sky July 1961.

Did you vote? I voted! And I say "it's tops!"