Category Archives: Avengers

TV Crimebusters (c) 1962

TV Crimebusters (c) 1962 TV Publications Ltd.

Annual sized hardback book. Features an Avengers strip story “The Drug Peddler”. This is the only know publication to contain an Ian Hendry Avengers story. It is also interesting in the combined use of photographs and illustrations, in the production of this strip story.

Also features Danger man, 77 Sunset Strip, Dixon of Dock Green.

Original Price 8/6d

 

Television Show Book (c) 1964

Television Show Book (c) 1964.

Dust Jacket shows the Beatles.

Contents include  photo’s and features on the Beatles, Burkes Law, G.S.5, No Hiding Place, Danger Man, Z cars, Emergency Ward 10, Beverly Hillbillies, The Saint, The Avengers, Dr Kildare, The Human Jungle.

Original Price 10/6d

Avengers British Comic book

The Avengers  Thorp & Porter  1966 

A one issue, 68-page, British, Black and white comic. This contained four stories, all featuring Emma Peel.

     Stories contained :

The Mochocks                    

The K stands for Killers

No Jury – No Justice           

Deadly Efficient                 

 Original Price 1/6d

 

Meet the Avengers (Star Special 15)

Meet the Avengers (Star Special 15) published by World Distributors in 1963.

This magazine is a very good introduction to the Steed / Cathy Gale series. Contains character profiles of not only Steed and Cathy, but also those of the actors who played them, along with behind the scenes looks at Avengers fashion and the production of an episode.

Original Price 2/6d

John Steed – An Authorised Biography

IMG_7317A fictional Biography of Steed was published in 1977, published by Weidenfield & Nicolson. It was written by Tim Heald, and tells of Steeds early life up to his first meeting with Cathy Gale. While it was titled as Vol 1 Jealous in Honour, a second volume sadly did not materialise.

Original Price £4.95

German Avengers Comic No 2

Krimi Klassiker Nummer 2 Mit Charme, Schirm und Melone : Jagd ohne Gnade.

This was the second of two German comics based on the Avengers, this second one contains two more stories from the British comic:

Jagd ohne Gnade (No Jury – No Justice)

Todliche Wirkung (Deadly Efficient)

Fashion Show Ticket / Bookmark

Avengers Fashion show TicketThis was long believed to be a Ticket for the 1967 Avengers fashion show, produced by Michael Edser.  New evidence suggests though that this might have been a promotional bookmark given away in copies of the Panther books published Avengers novels.

Childs Belt

Avengers Belt 1Avengers Belt 3Childs Belt, believed to have been issued by Lone Star in 1966. Belt is made of white elastic with “Avengers” in black upon it, also bowler and brolly motifs around it. While it has a metal clasp, it is believed that these were sold loose from a shop display card in toy stores., which would have had   several attached.

Avengers Belt 2

Dutch Trading Cards

Avengers Monty Gum 2Avengers Monty Gum 1Two cards featuring John Steed and Emma Peel,  were issued by Monty Gum of Holland as part of a much larger set of various TV/Film personalities.

Promotional Playing Cards

Promotional playing cards produced for ABC television. These publicised the 1967 Diana Rigg season of the Avengers, it is believed that these were for promotional purposes, in advertising the series to the various ITV regions.

Avengers Playing Cards 1

Avengers Promotional Book Matches

Avengers Blackman book matches 1 Avengers Blackman book matches 2Promotional book matches produced for ABC television. These publicised the 1964 Honor Blackman season of the Avengers, it is believed that these were for promotional purposes, in advertising the series to the various ITV regions.

Avengers Spanish trading cards

Avengers bottle cap spanish Steed Avengers bottle cap spanish Mrs PeelSpanish trading cards , two circular trading cards which appear to be from a much larger set of various TV/Film personalities. These two cards, one featuring John Steed, and the other featuring Emma Peel, are believed to have been issued in the late 1960’s.

With An Independent Air Hardback

With independant airThis book is an autobiography of Howard Thomas, who was a top executive, and one of the founders of ABC television, the company behind producing the Avengers. First edition with dust Jacket, published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson  in 1977. It is interesting as it gives a perspective on commercial television from the point of view of one of the ‘money’ men as it were. The dust jacket of the book features a black and white photograph of Howard Thomas with Patrick Macnee and Diane Rigg, having just received news that the Avengers had sold to the American market.

Original price £5.95

 

Avengers Shooting Game.

Avengers Shooting Game 13Avengers  Shooting Game, produced by Merit Toys 1967. This is a very nice Target game. The object was to shoot at the crate of “dynamite” in the centre of the target board. When hit, this would relase a spring causing the villians car to spring up into the air.

Original price 18/6d

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £26.90

 

Avengers Shooting Game 12 Avengers Shooting Game 11 Avengers Shooting Game 10 Avengers Shooting Game 9 Avengers Shooting Game 8 Avengers Shooting Game 7 Avengers Shooting Game 6 Avengers Shooting Game 5 Avengers Shooting Game 3 Avengers Shooting Game 2 Avengers Shooting Game 1

 

 

Avengers Annual Dutch

Avengers dutch annual 1 Avengers dutch annual 2An annual was published in Holland by Vanderhout and Co N.V. This is a soft covered annual which contains many of the same stories and features as the UK 1967 Emma Peel annual, translated for the Netherlands. In addition it also contains an abbreviated version of ‘Clothes make the man’ from the 1968 UK annual. All the stories in this are in full colour, unlike there UK counterparts. The cover of this is unusual in that the 1968 UK annual’s cover has been used, but redrawn slightly with Tara’s hair adjusted to look more like Emma Peel.

The Avengers German Hardback omnibus.

Avengers German omnibusThree of the  John Garforth books saw publication in Germany, in a hardback omnibus edition  published by Heyne in 1967.

The titles included in this omnibus edition include:

Der singende Tod von Blackpool  –   The Passing of Gloria Munday, translated into German by Wolf Heckmann.

Die traurigen Toten von Highgate  –   The Laugh was on Lazarus, translated into German by Fritz Moeglich.

Drei Kleine Chinamadchen  – The Floating Game, translated into German by Elisabeth Simon.

The Avengers Blackpool German Paperback

Avengers German BlackpoolOnly three of the John Garforth books saw publication in Germany, all were published by Heyne in 1967.

This one is Der singende Tod von Blackpool  –   The Passing of Gloria Munday, it was translated into German by Wolf Heckmann.

The Avengers Highgate Geman Paperback

Avengers German Highgate 1 Avengers German Highgate 2Only three of the John Garforth books saw publication in Germany, all were published by Heyne in 1967.

This one is Die traurigen Toten von Highgate  –   The Laugh was on Lazarus, it was translated into German by Fritz Moeglich.

The Avengers – The Moon Express USA Paperback

_MG_5461Berkly Medallion, having published the John Garforth books in America, then proceeded to continue the series with a  further five titles, none of which saw publication in England ! The nineth book, “The Moon Express” published in 1969, once again featured the new pairing of Steed and Tara King.

9) The Moon Express By Norman Daniels

Original Price $0.60c

 

The Avengers – The Magnetic Man USA Paperback

_MG_5462Berkly Medallion, having published the John Garforth books in America, then proceeded to continue the series with a  further five titles, none of which saw publication in England ! The eighth book, “The Magnetic Man” published in 1969, once again featured the new pairing of Steed and Tara King.

8) The Magnetic Man By Norman Daniels

Original Price $0.60c

The Avengers – The Gold Bomb USA Paperback

_MG_5464Berkly Medallion, having published the John Garforth books in America, then proceeded to continue the series with a  further five titles, none of which saw publication in England ! The seventh book, “The Gold Bomb” also published in 1968, once again featured the new pairing of Steed and Tara King.

7) The Gold Bomb By Keith Laumer  By Keith Laumer

Original Price $0.60c

The Avengers – Drowned Queen USA Paperback

_MG_5465Berkly Medallion, having published the John Garforth books in America, then proceeded to continue the series with a  further five titles, none of which saw publication in England ! Their next book, “The Drowned Queen” published in 1968, featured the new pairing of Steed and Tara King.

6) The Drowned Queen                        By Keith Laumer

Original Price $0.60c

 

The Avengers – The Afrit Affair USA Paperback

_MG_5466Berkly Medallion, having published the John Garforth books in America, then proceeded to continue the series with a  further five titles, none of which saw publication in England ! Their first book in 1968, “The Afrit Affair”, also featured Emma Peel, but the subsequent four featured the new pairing of Steed and Tara King.

5) The Afrit Affair         By Keith Laumer                 1968

Original Price $0.60c

 

The Avengers Jigsaw No 2 Thomas, Hope & Sankey 1966

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Thomas, Hope & Sankey produced four puzzles for exclusive sale in Woolworth’s during 1966. The puzzles were 11″ x 17″ in size and each contained approx. 340 pieces. All four puzzles featured the Steed, Mrs Peel pairing, fighting various assailants, based very loosely on episodes from the series.

2) Castle De’ath_MG_5646

Original Price 2/9d each

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £4.01

The Avengers Jigsaw No 3 Thomas, Hope & Sankey 1966

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Thomas, Hope & Sankey produced four puzzles for exclusive sale in Woolworth’s during 1966. The puzzles were 11″ x 17″ in size and each contained approx. 340 pieces. All four puzzles featured the Steed, Mrs Peel pairing, fighting various assailants, based very loosely on episodes from the series.

3) In the Basement    _MG_5638

Original Price 2/9d each

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £4.01

The Avengers Jigsaw No 1 Thomas, Hope & Sankey 1966

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 Thomas, Hope & Sankey produced four puzzles for exclusive sale in Woolworth’s during 1966. The puzzles were 11″ x 17″ in size and each contained approx. 340 pieces. All four puzzles featured the Steed, Mrs Peel pairing, fighting various assailants, based very loosely on episodes from the series. The Puzzles were titled :

 1) No Escape_MG_5647

Original Price 2/9d each

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £4.01

The Avengers Annual (© 1969. No year on cover)

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The third and final Avengers annual by Atlas Publishing  once again featured Tara King, and had a similar mixture of stories and feature as the other annuals.  The cover shows a full face  drawing of Steed with Tara  looking  over his left shoulder,  both front and back   covers are the same. Stories and features contained :

Text Stories

Don’t go Down the Mine,  Dad (Mother’s Already There)

Come on in the waters Deadly

What’s a ghoul like you, Doing in a place like this?

Strip Stories

Good Guys and Bad Guys

May I Have This Trance?

Thou’rt an Interfering Varlet, Mr Steed

Features

Off  Set with the Avengers

The Avengers change gear

Going home to Mother

Steady Steed

Trackers Tricks

Original Price 10/6d

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £14.13

The Avengers Annual (© 1968. No year on cover)

_MG_5513

This was the second annual to be issued by Atlas Publishing, and the first to feature Tara King.  The cover is red, with a head and  shoulders drawing of Steed. Two smaller drawings of Tara  and Steed are below this. Both the front and back covers are the same. Once again it contained a mixture of stories and features.  Stories and features contained :

 Text Stories

All the Fun of the Fair, Mr Steed

Mensa Sana, and All That

Avast There, Mr Steed

Strip Stories

Clothes Make the Man

Are You a Clansman, Mr Steed?

Mary, Mary

Features

Allow me to introduce my new colleague

Recipes for Realism

What’s an Objet Retrouve

Looking at Linda

Psst! There’s a man in my Wardrobe!

Hidden Helps

Firearms

Original Price 10/6d

 

The Avengers Annual ( © 1967. No year shown on cover)

_MG_5509

This was the first annual to be produced.  It was published by Souvenir press Ltd in association with Atlas Publishing. It is the only one of the Avengers annuals to feature Emma Peel. The annual contained features, with both text and strip stories.

The front cover shows  Steed and Emma fighting with two assailants on a stone stairway. The back cover is yellow. Of the three annuals produced, this is nicest containing  behind the scenes photos from some of the classic Emma Peel Stories.

The stories contained were written by Peter Leslie and illustrated by John Stokes.                The Stories and Features Contained :

Text Stories

Double Trouble

A Race against Time

Sunset in the East

A Question of Intelligence

Strip Stories

Odds against Steed

Flying Eagles

Steed’s Holiday

A Brush with Disaster

Features

Meet the Stars of The Avengers

The Avengers Props

They fly through the air with the Greatest of Ease

Behind the Men Behind the Scenes

John Steed’s Sword Stick

Spy Kit

Cars of Distinction

Original Price 10/6d

 

The Avengers – Heil Harris Dutch Paperback

_MG_5483

In 1970 the remaining  two John Garforth books were released in the Netherlands by Zwarte beertjes. The translation into Dutch was by W.G. Voges, while the cover design was by Dick Bruna.

Heil Harris  –  Heil Harris!

 

The Avengers – Lijken in Actie Dutch Paperback

_MG_5485

In 1968 two of the John Garforth books were released in the Netherlands by Zwarte beertjes. The translation into Dutch was by W.G. Voges, while the cover design was by Dick Bruna.

Lijken in Actie    –   The Laugh was on Lazarus

 

 

 

The Avengers – Maling aan de Maffia Dutch Paperback

_MG_5482

In 1968 two of the John Garforth books were released in the Netherlands by Zwarte beertjes. The translation into Dutch was by W.G. Voges, while the cover design was by Dick Bruna.

Maling aan de Maffia               –            The Floating Game

 

The Avengers – Heil Harris! USA Paperback 2nd ed

_MG_5467

In 1967 the four Panther Books by John Garforth were released by Berkly Medallion Books in the USA. Two different editions of each book were released. This is the second edition published in 1969.

Original price $0.60

Approx equivalent 2012 –  $4

The Avengers – Heil Harris! UK Paperback

_MG_5492

In 1967  Panther Books published four Avengers stories from the pen of John Garforth.  All four of these books featured Emma Peel. The fourth of these was “Heil Harris!”

Original Price  3/6d

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £5

The Avengers – The Floating Game UK Paperback

_MG_5493  _MG_5494

In 1967  Panther Books published four Avengers stories from the pen of John Garforth.  All four of these books featured Emma Peel. The first of these was “The Floating Game”

Original Price 3/6d

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £5

The Avengers – Dead Duck By Patrick MacNee & Peter Leslie 1966

_MG_5500 _MG_5502

Published in 1966 by  Hodder and Stoughton, this UK issued paperback was written by the show’s star Patrick MacNee, with, according to a small acknowledgement inside each book, the assistance of Peter Leslie. Though primarily billed as a John Steed adventure it also features Emma Peel.

Original Price 3/6d

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £5

 

The Avengers – Deadline By Patrick MacNee & Peter Leslie 1965

_MG_5503Published in 1965 by  Hodder and Stoughton, this UK issued paperback was written by the show’s star Patrick MacNee, with, according to a small acknowledgement inside each book, the assistance of Peter Leslie. Though primarily billed as a John Steed adventure it also features Emma Peel.

Original Price 3/6d

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £5.70

The Avengers – Emma Peel Doll Fairylite 1966-67

_MG_5619

_MG_5625                10-inch high plastic doll dressed in black plastic trousers, a short black woollen coat, black roll-neck sweater and black plastic boots. This came complete with a plastic base and a metal strut to support the doll when standing. Two further outfits for the doll were included. These were a pair of brown plastic trousers, a black wool pair of trousers, a white plastic tunic, a black plastic coat, a white plastic rain hat with black trim, also a pair of black mittens. This came in a yellow box, with black lettering, proclaiming “The Avengers Emma Peel Doll”, the box had a clear plastic window, through which the doll could be seen, holding a gun in its right hand. A small locating lug is in the palm of the right hand for connecting gun. This issue of the doll has also been seen with a white jumper and grey wool trousers.

                There is no manufacturers name on the box, the box is copywritten  ABC Television 1966, Having been made in Hong Kong, it is believed to have been produced by Fairylite, roundabout 1966-7. This is a nice item, (Though it looks nothing like Diana Rigg!) but it is extremely rare.

Original Price 19/11d

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £25.30

_MG_5622 _MG_5626 _MG_5624 _MG_5623 _MG_5628 _MG_5627 _MG_5618 _MG_5635 _MG_5634 _MG_5633 _MG_5632 _MG_5631 _MG_5630 _MG_5621 _MG_5629

The Avengers – John Steed Sword Stick Lone Star (Die-Cast Machine Tools Ltd.) 1966

Sword stick header card better_MG_5648Plastic Swordstick, could also be used as a water pistol (!?!). To quote the Lone Star catalogue for 1966, “This has tremendous play value. All plastic — a ‘Cane handle walking stick’ that is really a sword in a scabbard. The ferrule or tip has a slight recess (for corks) with a pinhole (for water). The sword is fitted with a safety tip which acts as a washer which is the secret behind the cork firing and water squirting features in the stick!!” Well that should explain it all. (As for me I’m still none the wiser.)

_MG_5654 _MG_5653 _MG_5650 _MG_5649 _MG_5652  _MG_5651

The Avengers Gift Set (GS 40) Corgi Toys 1966

_MG_5572This set contained two die-cast models, one being a red 1927 Bentley. (This was just a further re-use of the Corgi classics moulding.) The normal issues contain a red Bentley with black mudguards and silver or gold spoked wheels.  Also in this set was a white Lotus Elan S2, This had an opening bonnet, tipping seats and sliding windows. The Bentley had a bowler hatted driver, pertaining to be Steed, while Mrs. Peel was represented by a free-standing  figure  dressed  in  white.  Finally,  also  contained in the set, were three small black plastic umbrellas.

_MG_5573                The two cars were based on those used in the series by Steed and Mrs. Peel. The Bentley, though of a type typical of the ones Steed drove, is incorrect, not only in its colour (Steed always drove green Bentleys), but in that it is a 3 litre 1927   Bentley, whereas the one driven by Steed was a 4 1/2 litre 1927 Bentley (Reg: YT3942).  Several different Bentleys were used in the course of the show, but this is the one the model is closest to.

                Emma Peel’s Lotus, on the other hand, is incorrect only in colour, as the one used in the series was powder blue. This is however forgivable, in that at this time, the first Emma Peel season was shot in black and white, and it is known that in this system pale blue, shows up as being whiter than white actually does. (This being the case, it is also known that the earliest  Tardis consul, in Doctor Who, was pale blue in colour.)

Original Price 16/11d

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £25.90

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The Avengers By Douglas Enefer 1963 Consul Books

_MG_5504The first book, solely based upon the Avengers, was this novel featuring the pairing of Steed and Cathy Gale. (This is the only novel to feature Cathy Gale.) It was published by Consul books, who were a division of World Distributors, who are probably better known for the vast array of annuals, particularly TV related, that they produced throughout the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. As with all the paperbacks issued in connection with the Avengers, this is a totally new adventure using only the characters from the series, and being based upon no specific episode from the series.                                                     Original Price 2/6d

Approx equivalent 2012 –  £6.50