Asterix original cover sells for record €1.474 million

An original cover illustration for the comic book ‘Asterix the Brit’ has sold for a record-breaking price at an auction in Liège, Belgium. The piece, created by legendary artist Albert Uderzo, fetched a hammer price of €1.2 million, totaling approximately €1.474 million including buyer fees and royalties.

The artwork is a 34-by-47-centimeter gouache on cardboard depicting Asterix, Obelix, and the character Anticlimax fleeing with a barrel while being pursued by rugby players. The piece also features a personal dedication from Uderzo and co-creator René Goscinny to their publisher, Georges Dargaud.

This sale significantly exceeded the initial auction house estimate of €150,000 to €200,000. The 1966 cover is considered a highlight of the series by many fans and experts. Uderzo, who passed away in 2020, co-created the iconic franchise with Goscinny.