Spirou (magazine) - Spirou - 7 Magazines - First edition - 1952/1960

Remarkable gathering of 7 old and emblematic numbers from the Journal de Spirou, published between 1952 and 1960: nos. 720, 985, 1000, 1071, 1095, 1134 and 1159.
This set is particularly interesting for a collector as it brings together in one lot three historical issues corresponding to the first appearances of three major characters in Franco-Belgian comics: Marsupilami, Gaston Lagaffe, and the Smurfs, to which are added the legendary 1000th anniversary issue and a Spirou Vacances.
• Spirou no. 720 – 31 January 1952 – FIRST APPEARANCE OF MARSUPILAMI. Historic issue containing the very first appearance of Marsupilami, created by André Franquin, in Spirou et les Héritiers. In this first appearance, the character is still mysterious and initially appears as a silhouette. Spirou archives confirm precisely its appearance in no. 720 of 31 January 1952.
The copy offered is complete, with pages well bound. Good condition considering its 74 years, with natural yellowing of the paper and a small tear localized only on the first page/front cover, clearly visible in the photographs. The rest is well preserved for its age.
Spirou +1
• Spirou no. 985 – 28 February 1957 – FIRST APPEARANCE OF GASTON LAGAFFE. Another major issue: Gaston Lagaffe makes his very first appearance in the Journal de Spirou, under Franquin’s pen. He appears still discreetly, in black and white, before becoming one of the journal’s emblematic characters. This date and issue are confirmed by the Bpi archives as well as by the official Gaston Lagaffe site. Spirou no. 1000 – 13 June 1957 – ANNIVERSARY ISSUE. The famous thousandth issue of Spirou, immediately recognizable by its exceptional graphic composition made up of a multitude of small Spirou heads. It is a 40-page special edition that originally came with supplements. This copy shows more wear on the first page/cover than the other numbers in the lot, but remains complete and well bound.
Bdoubliees
• Spirou no. 1071 – 23 October 1958 – FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE SMURFS. One of the most historic numbers of the lot: first graphical appearance of Peyo’s Smurfs in the Johan and Peewit adventure La Flûte à six trous, which would become La Flûte à six Schtroumpfs. The Journal de Spirou itself confirms that the characters are introduced in no. 1070 before appearing for the first time in no. 1071 of 23 October 1958.
Complete copy and binding intact. Some aging traces and slight wear localized especially on the lower right part of the first page, visible in the photographs.
Spirou
Spirou no. 1095 – 9 April 1959. A issue of Spirou’s great classic period, completing this set from the late 1950s. Complete copy and pages well bound.
• Spirou no. 1134 – 7 January 1960. Issue from the early 1960s, also complete and kept with its binding intact.
• Spirou no. 1159 – 30 June 1960 – SPÉCIAL “SPIROU VACANCES”. Very beautiful 60-page special issue, immediately recognizable by its large yellow and black cover signed Will. The cover notably announces an electric billiard table, a miniature album and “Gaston creates a journal within the journal.” It is also one of the best-preserved copies in the set, with colors still particularly vivid.
Overall condition
The 7 journals are complete and their pages are well bound. No copy is presented as new: they are today between about 66 and 74 years old and naturally show some signs of handling and aging, notably paper yellowing, small marks, rubbing, or localized small tears.
The main defects have been intentionally photographed and pointed out, notably the small tear on the first page of no. 720, the more pronounced wear on the cover of no. 1000, and the small defect in the lower right part of no. 1071.
Despite these age-typical imperfections, the set remains highly collectible and particularly interesting for its content.
It is an uncommon meeting of seven isolated historic issues, notably:
no. 720: first appearance of Marsupilami – no. 985: first appearance of Gaston Lagaffe – no. 1071: first appearance of the Smurfs – no. 1000: anniversary issue – no. 1159: Spirou Vacances special, to which add nos. 1095 and 1134.
A fine opportunity to gather in a single lot several major milestones in the history of the Journal de Spirou and of Franco-Belgian comics from the 1950s–1960s.
The photographs are part of the description and allow precise appreciation of the condition of each issue.
For Catawiki, I would keep exactly this idea of an “uncommon gathering of historic issues” rather than “extremely rare”: it is strong enough, but above all much harder for the expert to require you to modify the wording.