An Angus man thought he had landed a jackpot when he stumbled across what looked like a first edition Beano.
Gordon Watson (75) from Glamis made the discovery when he was cleaning out his loft and came across an envelope containing the comic.
The book bore the date July 30 1938 and looked in mint condition but unfortunately for Mr Watson it turned out to be a reprint.
He said: ”We had cleared the loft out to get it insulated recently and I was knackered. But then I saw this big envelope and there it was.
”It’s absolutely like new but it’s a shame to find out it’s a reprint.”
Mr Watson, like many people, has fallen into the trap of thinking they have found an original Beano when it was, in fact, a reprinted anniversary issue.
The original Beano first edition has 28 pages and is glued at the spine, whereas most reprints are stapled, printed on glossy paper and have 24 pages.
A source at the Beano added that there are only an estimated 12 copies of the original first edition left in the world, worth around £15,000 each.
