An original cover illustration of an early Asterix comic book has sold for a record €1.4 million (£1.25million) at a Paris auction, more than seven times its expected price.
The drawing for "Asterix and the Banquet" (Le Tour de Gaule in French), signed by the creators of the legendary series, Albert Uderzo and Rene Goscinny, was sold by the Drouot auction house.
The story, first published as an album in 1965, recounts the travels of the indomitable Gallic hero Asterix and his rotund sidekick Obelix as they travel around France sampling local delicacies and wines.
It had been expected to fetch €180,000-200,000 euros based on previous sales, but collectors proved willing to pay far more, the auction house said.
Another cover illustration for "Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield" went for €1.2 million, also far higher than predicted.
The Asterix and the Banquet drawing has a handwritten dedication to Pierre Tchernia, a prominent cinema and TV producer nicknamed “Monsieur Cinéma”, who died last year. Parts of his collection of art and drawings are now being sold.
Original Asterix illustrations are gaining value and now rival the prices fetched by drawings of Belgium’s Tintin, the boy reporter and adventurer.
Despite the magic potion that fortifies Asterix, Tintin still holds the world record for the sale of a drawing. A double-page illustration that was the inside cover for all Tintin adventures published from 1937 to 1958 sold for €2.6 million in 2014.
An original panel from the story Tintin on the Moon fetched £1.3 million in 2016 and a sketch by Tintin’s creator, Hergé, is expected to sell for a huge sum at an auction in Belgium this month.
Asterix and his companions are to return next week, with the publication of the 37th book in the series, “Asterix and the Chariot Race", set in ancient Italy.
It will be the third album by the artist Didier Conrad, who has replaced the creator, Albert Uderzo, 90.
The drawing for "Asterix and the Banquet" (Le Tour de Gaule in French), signed by the creators of the legendary series, Albert Uderzo and Rene Goscinny, was sold by the Drouot auction house.
The story, first published as an album in 1965, recounts the travels of the indomitable Gallic hero Asterix and his rotund sidekick Obelix as they travel around France sampling local delicacies and wines.
It had been expected to fetch €180,000-200,000 euros based on previous sales, but collectors proved willing to pay far more, the auction house said.
Another cover illustration for "Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield" went for €1.2 million, also far higher than predicted.
The Asterix and the Banquet drawing has a handwritten dedication to Pierre Tchernia, a prominent cinema and TV producer nicknamed “Monsieur Cinéma”, who died last year. Parts of his collection of art and drawings are now being sold.
Original Asterix illustrations are gaining value and now rival the prices fetched by drawings of Belgium’s Tintin, the boy reporter and adventurer.
Despite the magic potion that fortifies Asterix, Tintin still holds the world record for the sale of a drawing. A double-page illustration that was the inside cover for all Tintin adventures published from 1937 to 1958 sold for €2.6 million in 2014.
An original panel from the story Tintin on the Moon fetched £1.3 million in 2016 and a sketch by Tintin’s creator, Hergé, is expected to sell for a huge sum at an auction in Belgium this month.
Asterix and his companions are to return next week, with the publication of the 37th book in the series, “Asterix and the Chariot Race", set in ancient Italy.
It will be the third album by the artist Didier Conrad, who has replaced the creator, Albert Uderzo, 90.