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Comic lovers will, throughout this auction, recognize the hands of their favorite artists and drawings of their favorite characters, which they will have the opportunity to acquire at estimates ranging from €1,000 to €650,000.

Among masterpieces of the sale is a page of La Marque Jaune (The Yellow «M»), the legendary album of the Edgar P. Jacobs’ Blake and Mortimer series, estimated between 100,000 and 120,000 euros. Published in 1956, this story appears as a turning point in the work of its author and The Yellow «M» soon became the emblematic symbol of the entire series. Moreover, Jacobs’ quintessential British tone and his recurrent themes such as the city of London and scientific experiments are well represented in this album. The 8th page displays a key episode of the album as Blake and Mortimer are officially involved in the investigation ; it is also the first time both heroes and the yellow mark, drawn straight on the pavement, appear together on the same page. To date, only one original page of Blake and Mortimer has ever been put up for auction, in 2010. Edgar P. Jacobs’ art is rare on the market, but in this sale, connoisseurs will be given the opportunity to acquire another page from the Secret de l’Espadon (The Secret of the Swordfish), estimated to sell between €80,000 and €85,000.

The auction will also offer a very rare gouache cover entirely painted by Uderzo himself, unlike some Pilote covers which were occasionally drawn by one of his studio’s artists. This cover depicts the 13th Adventure of the Irrepressible Gauls, Astérix et le Chaudron (Astérix and the Cauldron), a Goscinny and Uderzo album published in 1998. This superb cover estimated between 100,000 and 120,000 euros shows our two heroes with their trademark slapstick attitude beautifully captured by Uderzo’s dynamic drawing.

Since its pre-publication in the weekly Pilote, Blueberry has been considered a reference point for westerns; and it is the precious color cover of the Cheval de Fer (The Iron Horse) which will be up for auction for 90,000 to 100,000 euros. This gouache on paper painted by Jean Giraud in 1966 illustrates the album of Blueberry, the most famous character of the series to be written by Jean-Michel Charlier.

In this episode, two organisations undertake to build a railroad linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In addition to being subjected to each other’s rivalries and sabotages, both companies have to endure Indian attacks... Lieutenant Blueberry is in charge of investigating and dealing with their quarrels. This cover was reproduced on both the album and the Pilote magazine –which published the first pages of the story–, and is one of three from the album which will be featured in the sale.

By the same artist, but this time under the pseudonym of Moebius, a full page of Arzach will be estimated between 55,000 and 65,000 euros. This rare drawing is from the 4th story of this album. With its new approach and absence of dialogue, this set of five short stories is considered a genuine narrative revolution in sequential art. Arzach and its creator, Moebius, were essential components of the legendary magazine Métal Hurlant, which they contributed to since its creation.

The sale will also feature the exceptional collection of Mr. Barbier. This renowned connoisseur of classic comics started building his collection over twenty years ago, when he was only twenty years old himself. Already ahead of his time, he had always considered comics as a form of art and, driven by his avant-garde approach, he started carefully collecting contemporary pieces, mainly from comics of the 1980’s and early 1990’s. This collection, estimated in the region of €600,000, will offer 42 masterpieces. Among these, there will be a wonderful selection from Enki Bilal’s legendary albums including five pages from the Foire aux Immortels (Immortals) and an additional 5 pages from the famous Partie de Chasse (The Hunting Party) which will be offered with estimates ranging from €25,000 and €50,000.

Contemporary comics will also be celebrated, through major drawings from artists such as Manara, a reference in erotic drawings. One of the most important pieces of the session, a drawing from the album Voyage à Tulum (Trip to Tulum) will be on offer with an estimate price of 18,000 to 20,000 euros. This album was initially published in Italy by Rizzoli in 1990, after the interruption of the production of Federico Fellini’s film of the same name. However, the Italian director adapted his script for Manara to make it into a comic book. The artist paid tribute to his friend by drawing him several times throughout the book. Also from Manara, but written by Hugo Pratt, four beautiful pages of Un été Indien (Indian Summer) will be offered for estimates comprised between 8,000 and 15,000 euros.

On 14 March 2015, the auction day open at 1pm, with a first sale entirely dedicated to the works of the celebrated Hergé. This sale will include 10 exceptional works, displayed in a catalogue dedicated exclusively to the artist. Amongst this sample of the author’s work estimated around €1,5 million, one will find the last unpublished cover drawn by Hergé for the Journal de Tintin in 1978 (€350,000-400,000). This cover depicts characters from Le Lotus Bleu (The Blue Lotus) such as Tintin and Milou (Snowy), Dupond and Dupont (the Thompson twins), young Tchang, Mr. and Mrs. Wang and their son Didi, who was poisoned and consequently went insane, Mitsuhirato and Rastapopoulos. Amongst the highlights of this sale, there will be a precious bookshop poster designed in 1944 (€650,000-700,000), two major pencil drawings from Coke en Stock (The Red Sea Sharks, respectively estimated at €60,000-80,000 and €250,000-280,000), a Christmas card featuring the characters of the Temple du Soleil (Prisoners of the Sun, €12,000-15,000), and a page from Quick et Flupke, still by the author, dated May 7th, 1935 (€40,000-45,000). For Hergé’s works, please refer to the dedicated release.

An exceptional preview in New York

As a response to the great interest from foreign collectors for franco-belgian comics during the 2014 spring auction, a small selection of these masterpieces will be on tour in New York for a preview between February 27th and March 4th. During the 2014 auction, bidders from 14 different countries had indeed showed strong interest and enthusiasm for this art. During the New York preview, the American audience will have the privilege of meeting four artists: Jean-Pierre Gibrat, Juanjo Guarnido, Mathieu Lauffray and Régis Loisel. This will be a unique opportunity for an international audience to discover highlights of European comics. The works exhibited will demonstrate the great diversity within the catalogue, with historical artists such as Peyo (Les Schtroumpfs (The Smurfs)) and Franquin (Spirou, the Marsupilami), as well as new classics such as Schuiten or Jean-Pierre Gibrat and contemporary illustrators like Didier Graffet and Laurent Gapaillard.

Viewings : In New York: from 27 February to 4 March 2015
In Paris: from 11 to 13 March from 10am. to 6pm. and 14 March from 10am. to 12pm.
Sales : Saturday 14 March 2015 at 1pm. (Hergé sale),
and 1:30pm. (General sale)
Christie’s: 9, ave Matignon – 75008 – Paris ǀ Maghen Gallery: 47 quai des Gds Augustins – 75006 – Paris