Nasty Tales/R. Crumb

In the late 1960s England's major underground newspaper, International Times (IT), began including more cartoons into their content, mixing in some British comics with quite a few American underground comics. It was a popular move that drove up their circulation numbers. In 1970, one of their photographers, Graham Keen, left the paper to launch Cyclops, the first major British underground comic with national distribution. Cyclops folded after four issues, probably because it featured mostly British comics, which at the time were of significantly poorer quality than American comics. But Bloom Publications (publisher of IT) saw the potential in the comic book format and launched its own underground comic book, Nasty Tales, the following year. Unlike Cyclops, Nasty Tales focused on reprinted American underground comics. That may sound old hat to Americans, but people in Great Britain had never seen a comic book that delivered page after page of Robert Crumb, Gilbert Shelton, Greg Irons, S. Clay Wilson and Spain Rodriguez. Nasty Tales was 52 pages thick and every issue featured at least 32 pages of American underground comics (as much as most American comic books). It was easily the most popular British underground of its time, helped pave the way for undergrounds that would follow (in more ways than one), and inspired many British cartoonists to pursue work in underground comics. The first issue of Nasty Tales reprinted one of Robert Crumb's cartoons from Snatch Comics #1, "Grand Opening of the Great Intercontinental Fuck-in and Orgy Riot," which looked every bit as raunchy as it sounds. Though this same cartoon had previously been published in IT without a problem, this time an eight-year-old boy picked up Nasty Tales #1 at a news stand and took it home. When his mother found the comic book and perused it, she tore it to pieces and took the shredded book down to the local police station. This incident led to Bloom Publications and the staff at Nasty Tales being indicted in 1971 for possessing obscenity with the intent to distribute. The Nasty Tales trial at the Old Bailey (the most important criminal court in Great Britain) in January, 1973 was a national event and contentious affair. While the trial resulted in a not guilty verdict for Bloom Publications and the comic book's staff, the costs of the trial derailed the publication (the judge denied a motion to reimburse the defendants for their legal expenses). In fact, the seventh and final issue of Nasty Tales came out before the trial even began. After the series folded, the trial was memorialized in 1973 in the comic book The Trials of Nasty Tales, which was copublished by Bloom and H. Bunch Associates and, somewhat ironically, featured all British creators. While its run may not have lasted long, Nasty Tales was a vitally important publication in the history of British undergrounds. The notorious trial that it engendered (and the resulting not guilty verdict) would embolden British publishers to produce hundreds of other underground comics in the coming years. And despite the emphasis on American comics, Nasty Tales also gave Britains Chris Welch and Edward Barker (who was one of the defendants in the trial) considerable exposure. From Comixjoint.com

Check the Website for WEEKLY DEALS

Sometimes it's hard to blog because time has a way of getting away from you, but I thought it was important to mention that we do offer TWO weekly deals categories...one has 5 regular products at 10% off and the other has 5 regular products listed at 20% off. If you have not gone to the website recently, we have done a lot to it...AND we have added new incentives and deals. But the only way to know is to check the website at www.bagsunlimited.com The deals are listed on the homepage, and wholesale and BONUS points information is also listed on the homepage. Other links of interest would be NEW products, What We Do, and in PERIODICALS, you will find HOW TO videos that are very easy to follow with step by step directions. We strive to offer the highest quality products in comic sleeves, comic backings, mailers and frames, as well as for posters, postcards, music, audio and vinyl, corrugated storage boxes, mailer tubes and card sleeves, frames, and just about everything in between. We have a product custom fit for almost every type of collectible. We invite you to go to the website now and browse the thousands of items we offer. We also invite you to COMMENT on products you have purchased in the past. Your feedback is highly regarded and we appreciate you taking the time to let us know how we stand in the world of collecting. So, take a look, ask questions, request samples, and most of all...HAVE FUN! Make it a GREAT DAY!

WHY USE BAGS UNLIMITED for COLLECTION PROTECTION?

Hi, all! I hope everyone is fairing well and in good health! I thought it was important to bring up some reasons for using Bags Unlimited for protecting your collectibles. I know there are places that may sell some of the same products we do...maybe even in some cases for less, but I hope to explain what those differences may be and entice you to read on ...for the sake of your collections.

We have been manufacturing archival preservation products for about 40 years. The whole premise of the company is, was and always will be based on the highest quality products used in preventing the wear and tear and eventual breakdown of collectibles. It's nothing we take lightly. All of our products specify what they are made of, and we help give you the best picture possible to explain what the differences might be. We do have an economy line and we also have the highest form of protection available which would be museum grade. We give as many choices as possible. We also cut each product to fit very specific collectibles..it's not to say that you couldn't use a mylar lobby card sleeve on a still...you can, but if it's meant for a specific product, it's cut to measure so that slippage is not possible. (Slippage may also cause wear and tear, and we don't want that, of course). Another point is that we use these products ourselves on our own collectibles! We are family owned and operated and we intend to remain that way...who doesn't like working with a company that has a face? I know I prefer it. We offer many amenities to help offset costs and we also offer wholesale pricing, weekly specials and bonus points~ (Every order gives you points that = a 10% discount). We have LIVE, knowledgeable customer service reps and sales people who can help answer questions, and we even supply free samples. So, when you're looking for a company to purchase products from, I hope you think of us~ We are here to help, and we invite you to try us out and see for yourself what we can do for you! Please let us know if you have any questions, and we hope to be hearing from you soon!

THE END OF A GREAT YEAR AND THE START OF A NEW ONE!

Bags Unlimited would like to say "THANKS" to all those who have visited our website, read our blogs, purchased any of of our products and those who stopped in to say "HI"! We appreciate our clientele and would like to wish each and every one of you a VERY safe, healthy and happy New Year!!!!! Here's to 2013!

Drawn Together by Art with Aline Crumb

Author Q&A: Drawn Together by Art with Aline Crumb
Crumb fan? you will definitely want to read this.
If you're a collector, check out our sleeves for this as well!
www.bagsunlimited.com

CURATOR FINDS FIRST EVER COLOR MOVIE!!

LOVE GETTING A DEAL?

LOVES giving a great deal! In fact, we post weekly deals on our homepage~ The 1st set is a list of five regular products at 10% off, and the 2nd list is a set of 5 regular products at 20% off! That's right~ These are regular products chosen from our product line to give everyone a chance to get a great discount~ Now that is what I call GREAT! They are changed weekly, so check in often~ Also, don't forget to visit our specials and closeout links~ Please call or email for more info, or for a free catalog or sample. customercare@bagsunlimited.com 800-767-2247. Don't forget to add your email address to receive bonus discounts twice a year~

PRODUCTS YOU Are interested in!

Hi, there! Although Bags Unlimited has been manufacturing for decades, we're always interested in knowing what YOU would like to see in our catalog. If you're not sure what we do, then I invite you to take a look at We also have a packaging division where we print...on almost anything..that website is: We have a plethora of cool stuff there, from bags to totes to T-shirts and more! We do many things you may not be aware of: Labels Bags (printed and non, paper and plastic) T-Shirts Yard Signs and so much more the list is too long to print! If you need samples, just give us a call! Or send us an email: customercare@bagsunlimited.com or 800-767-2247. We also off a SHOW PROMOTION PACKAGE~ It's FREE! check for more details. Are you a jeweler and need displays? We've got 'em! Greeting card maker? We have stuff for that too! Oh, yeah...we DO have everything you need for COMICS, RECORDS, POSTERS, POSTCARDS, DVD'S, CD'S, PERIODICALS, NEWSPAPERS, PHOTOGRAPHS, BOOKS, even license plates! Yup! So, if you thought we only made bags, we invite you to find out more about us today! Ask about bomus points, wholesale pricing, and more. Hope to see you soon! Thanks! The Bags Unlimited Team

NEW SLEEVES FOR COMIC ART

http://bagsunlimited.com/recentadditions.aspx

Sleeves for Single Cards - A9

5-15/16 x 8-3/4"
1.5 mil POLYPROPYLENE with resealable flap.
Holds 1 A9 greeting card with envelope.
Reseal tape is located on the FLAP

This is only ONE of MANY new products we have for art and graphic artists and comic art, etc. You won't know what's new unless you visit. I promise, we really do have something for everyone.

Sketch Card Holder
 SCREWDOWN with BLACK BORDER
2-1/2 x 3-1/2" recessed card area
3-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 1/4" o.d.
Crystal-clear, no PVC, acid-free material
Display cards vertically or horizontally
SKU: a81199sktcd

Just a couple of MANY new and exciting products...wholesale is available.

ART and How to Protect it

The Art of Art and how to protect it
Argh! Ever write a blog and then it disappears?
Anyway, what I PREVIOUSLY wrote was about art…art is powerful..it can take you places, transport you into another time, place and even dimension. Not all art is good, but all art is a creation…a symphony of dreams and statements and thought provoking illustrations, brush sweeps and details of someone emoting…
That’s cool. Art can be like great literature…tell a story in a painting. Art can make you happy, mad, confused, sad and even a little crazy. But that is part of of the beauty of art! I envy those who can draw. I truly do. I try to allow my hand to take me where my thoughts are going but all I get are scribbles of something of a “wanna-be”. So, my hat is off to all of you who are fortunate enough and blessed enough to have the talent take us places, move us inspire us and change and even tranform us. THANK YOU.
Bags Unlimited has lots of product info to help you understand what products are best used to protect your art…whether you supply or buy, it’s important to protect art in acid free products. You can read more about this at www.bagsunlimited.com
Stop in any time!

GET YOUR COUPON DISCOUNT CODES

Some people have been asking how do they get the coupon codes for discounts? Well, I have an answer for all you who have been waiting. Twice a year we do a great undertaking and send out a mass email. In that email you will find coupons codes for discounts, and updates on product info and other information that you may need to know.
Remember, the wholesale guidelines are posted on the website, and we do offer free samples upon request, and we WHOLLY support SHOWS and CONVENTIONS for collectors of almost every kind! * Ask for details.
Contact us by phone 800-767-2247, or by email to customercare@bagsunlimited.com and ask to put on the customer list. We do not sell or divulge your email to anyone.
*ALSO: some people order under two names! It's good to let us know so we can combine them (yet keep them separate if need be) so you can get your bonus points! Remember, bonus points add up to a 10% discount!