Annuals that offer jolly japes for investors

Rupert Bear 1973

This rarity has a brown rather than white Rupert face on the cover. Only 12 were released before the rest were pulped. £23,000

The Magic-Beano Book 1943

This record price was reached in 2017 – fetching double the estimate. It is considered to be the highest grade example of the annual in existence.

The Dandy Monster Comic 1939

This sold at auction in 2006. It features Korky the Cat and Jimmy and his Grockle.

The Beano Book 1940

There are believed to be only 11 surviving copies of this first Beano annual. The top price was paid in 2010 after eagle-eyed staff at a Cancer Research UK charity shop discovered it at the bottom of a bag of donations. All the money raised at auction went to support the charity.