The Comic Van - Buying and swapping comics in the 1960's

Back in the 1960's American comic books were for the most part regularly available in newsagents in the UK. While comics like Superman, Batman, The Flash etc were available , they were (compared to most UK comics) also expensive. To combat this there was a ‘Swap’ culture available amongst comic fans at the time. Although my interest in comics in the 1960's was largely confined to UK titles (being only 9 years old by 1969) I do recall my older brother and his pals "buying and selling" rules, which were predicated by the owner of the “comic book van" in my local town.

The “comic van” was a confectionary van that also sold US comic books, bubble gum card sets like American Civil War, Mars Attacks, Batman etc and other media-based items. I no longer remember the gentleman’s name that owned the van, but I can still recall the magic of visiting his van and checking his latest selection of new comics and cards. Comic sales were split into 2 section , new comics, and preowned titles with the option to swap an older comic along with some money (usually getting a new comic for half price). Batman and Superman comics were always the best items to swap as these allowed you to buy a new comic for less money, but titles like Lois Lane, US War comics, Archies etc were never in demand and these were the worst items to swap. In one of my last conversations with my brother we briefly discussed this time and the "comic van" and I wish I had taken more account of the details on these tims and the swaps/stories he told me. Below are some of my brothers original comics that he bought at the comic van (some of these are comics I have repurchased) to go with the above titles ( Justice League of America # 63 by Mike Sekowsky (a repurchase) and Jimmy Olsen #111 by Neal Adams(my brothers original):

Above : Hawkman #27 - 1968 - Cover by Joe Kubert (a repurchase)

Above: Action Comics #359 - December 1968 - Cover by Neal Adams (my brothers original)

Above: Adventure Comics # 354 - 1967 - Cover by Curt Swan (original)

Above: Adventure Comics # 361 - 1967 - Cover by Curt Swan (original)

Above: Superman # 201 - 1967 - Cover by Curt Swan (original)

Above: Action Comics # 368 - 1969 - Cover by Carmine Infantino (original)

Lois Lane # 89 - 1969 - Cover by Carmine Infantino/Neal Adams (Original)

Above: DC Special - 1970 - (repurchase)

I recently saw the above issue of Justice League of America (#74 by Neal Adams) on the excellent Rip Jaggers Dojo blog, which reminded me of the "Comic van" as this was one of my brother favourite comics. It also encouraged me to visit to my loft to look out the above comics when I found some of these in an carrier bag that my cousin gave to me ( I had loaned him some of these comics over 20 years ago and forgot all about them when he returned them a few years ago).