Comic book stars go under the hammer in Monaco

Despite claiming its status as the ninth art, comics rarely find favor at auction. And the Monte-Carlo Auction House achieved a first this Wednesday by devoting an entire sale to original works and objects from the world of comics.

Tintin, Gargamel, Homer Simpson, Bob Morane, Asterix... and even Philippe Geluck's Cat were there. The latter was one of the first big hits of the sale with this triptych featuring one of the famous cat's humorous quips, especially for the Principality: "In Monaco, the streets are no longer safe. Billionaires no longer dare to go out at night... There are millionaires prowling around."

The series of paintings sold for €42,000, while a bronze statue of the same figure by Geluck fetched €130,000. This was a high sum, given that the sale offered something for everyone—or almost everyone—with some pieces selling for a few hundred euros and others reaching higher values. In the room, the handful of buyers present were able to indulge themselves, while the bulk of the sale was conducted over the phone and online.

Uderzo's board did not sell

After a two-and-a-half-hour session, HVMC president Franck Baille expressed his satisfaction with this premiere, which attracted an audience of comic book enthusiasts. He didn't hide his disappointment, feeling that he had been "swept away" on one of the sale's star lots. In this case, a cover page from Asterix and Obelix, volume 23, by Albert Uderzo, and estimated at between €250,000 and €350,000 in the catalog.

In a press release, Sylvie Uderzo, the copyright holder of her father's work, considered the origin of the piece to be "dubious," calling its authenticity into question.

At the Monte Carlo Auction House yesterday, the plate displayed in a glass case was accompanied by a handwritten letter dated 2008 and signed by Albert Uderzo, attesting to the authenticity of this work, which he had given to a friend. The sale of lot 245, marked by the hammer at €320,000, will not be confirmed because the owner had set a higher reserve price. Behind the scenes, the HVMC teams regretted this policy, which could have dampened the appetite of buyers who had expressed interest in the sale but withdrew their offers.

"If it had been a dubious work, Sylvie Uderzo would have been within her rights to have it withdrawn from sale," adds Franck Baille, upset by these statements, which are likely to lead to legal action. "We are going to sue Sylvie Uderzo for defamation, because this has ruined the sale, even though it is an authentic work."