A COLLECTION of comic ‘gold dust’ including early Marvel editions will be centre stage at a special comic and toy sale.

International comic aficionados are expected to do battle online with domestics bidders at the Anderson & Garland sale in Newcastle on Tuesday, where comics including Marvel Comics Daredevil #1, Fantastic Four #1, X-Men #1 and Avengers #1 will be going under the hammer.

The prized pieces are being sold by the widow of a collector from South Yorkshire, who had kept the comics since boyhood.

Anderson & Garland auctioneer and comic expert, John Anderson, said: “The lady had heard about our previous comic sale and contacted us.

"When I got there, there were four smallish boxes on her kitchen table, fewer than I expected but they were special as gold dust.

“These are not normally the comics you come across unless you’re dealing with a knowledgeable collector. Comics from this period are usually heavily read and have been stored in a cupboard but some of the comics in this collection are in really good condition.

“Fantastic Four #1, which came out in November 1961, is a key comic if you’re a Marvel collector. This is the one that kicked off the Marvel Universe of Superheroes. Although this is in poor condition, it is still expected to make £400-£600. Every collector wants a copy of Fantastic Four #1."

A number of classic comics from Marvel rival DC, such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Bat Man and Green Lantern will also going under the hammer too, both from the Yorkshire collection and from comics being sold on behalf of North-East vendors.

For more information, please visit www.andersonandgarland.com.