*Horror 1940-1959: Youthful was a publisher specialising in non-superhero series, one of which began as clean-cut space hero Captain Science, which transmuted into Sci-Fi horror hybrid Fantastic, morphing again into full-on horror with Beware, and finally settling down into Chilling Tales, keeping the same numbering throughout. The reasons for these metamorphoses was twofold: publishers saved money on mail-order subscription licences by changing the name of a series, rather than relaunching and coughing up for a new licence, and the popular belief at the time was that newsvendors wouldn’t stock anything with #1 on the cover, as they’d reason no-one had heard of it, so there’d be no demand for a first issue of an untested series! Be that as it may, this series entered its most notorious phase as Chilling Tales, in which the horror motif hit its stride with lurid and notorious stories. Demand for Chilling Tales is incandescent, even in low-to-mid grades, so we’re lucky to have a complete run of beauties for your perusal, beginning with the first (appropriately numbered #13) and concluding with the final issue #17. Issue #13 is FA/GD, generally decent shape but a small patch of moisture/mould centre logo, which has also slightly ‘blotted’ the splash page. Light but long diagonal creases do not detract from the cover image. Issue #14 is FA/GD, with an upper spine split but otherwise presenting decently. #15 is GD/VG and #16 FA, cover slightly off-centre due to printing mis-cut, light interior staining lower margin throughout, but not affecting story images. Lastly, #17 is GD-, with a lower spine split at cover.
PICTURED: CHILLING TALES
#13 FA/GD £115 SOLD
#14 FA/GD £115 SOLD
#15 GD/VG £215 SOLD
#16 FA £125 SOLD
#17 GD- £125 SOLD