Legal Dispute Leaves Original 'Asterix and Cleopatra' Cover Art Unsold

A highly valued piece of comic book history remained on the shelf as the original cover painting from the classic 1963 comic book "Asterix and Cleopatra" failed to sell at auction. Presented by the Brussels-based auction house Millon, the painting, a famous gouache featuring the legendary Egyptian queen and the beloved Gaulish characters Asterix and Obelix, did not receive any bids that met the reserve price, despite expectations that it would fetch between 400,000 to 500,000 euros.

Millon's director general Arnaud de Partz suggested that the looming legal actions brought forward by Sylvie Uderzo, daughter of the late illustrator Albert Uderzo, likely dissuaded potential buyers. Sylvie contends that, based on her father's habit of always signing and dedicating his given away artwork, the painting, unsigned and not dedicated, might have been stolen.

A complaint by Sylvie to Belgian prosecutors spilled uncertainty over the provenance of the painting. Despite prosecutors not finding evidence of a crime, the mere suggestion prompted caution amongst collectors. Sylvie's lawyer, Orly Rezlan, explicitly warned that any purchaser could face prosecution for dealing in stolen goods.

Albert Uderzo, who passed away in 2020, was widely known for standing against the sale of his undedicated drawings. However, auction house Millon defended the sale, noting that numerous undedicated works had been auctioned previously without issue. Millon represented the son of an individual who was reportedly gifted the painting over 50 years ago by Uderzo himself.

Apart from its financial value, the cover art is significant for reflecting a playful parody of the 1963 "Cleopatra" film's poster, creatively linking Asterix and Obelix to Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, played by Rex Harrison and Richard Burton, respectively. The original artwork was part of a series that saw Asterix and Cleopatra published in the Pilote magazine serially in 1963, subsequently becoming the sixth book-length adventure by 1965.

The fierce battle for ownership and authentication reflects a growing trend where original French and Belgian comic book art, particularly from series like Asterix and Tintin, has become hot property for collectors and investors alike, turning the comic art world into a lucrative market fueled by nostalgia and historical significance.