Celebrated 60th birthday last year

The buyer was 25-year-old Oliver Driscoll from Derbyshire, who also went away with the 'Whoopee' mask which was given away with the first edition.

A young reader paid just tuppence for a copy of the children's comic when it was first published in 1938.

The first edition was put up for sale by Comic Book Postal Auctions on behalf of a man living in England who had hung on to the comic for more than 60 years.

The highest amount paid up until now for a copy of the first Beano, which is produced in Dundee, is believed to be �4,200 in 1995.

The Beano is still going strong and collectors' interest in children's comics is on the increase.