Some pretty interesting comics-related auctions are being held over the coming weeks in two Paris based action houses. Millon Associés organizes an auction of original artwork on May 30th and 31st. The session on Friday contains items roughly dealing with “Histoires de femme”. Nearly 300 pieces are listed in the catalogue (available as a full-colour PDF-file from the site). Most notably are pages by Claire Brétécher, Frank Margerin, Jacques Tardi and Jean-Claude Servais, black-and-white illustrations by François Schuiten and Régis Loisel and full colour work by Moebius, Liberatori, Mattotti, Rosinski and Rabate. Prices range from 300 to 4,500 Euros.
(”le couple” from l’Art de la Fessée by Manara from the Millon Associés auction, starting off around the 300-400 Euros mark)
On Saturday 400 more pieces are offered, collected as specimens of “La BD, un art contemporain”. Artists featured include Baudoin, Boucq, Druillet, Greg, Mézières, Stanislas and Joost Swarte. Also included are some exquisite colour pieces by Dupuy and Berbérian, Loustal and a few clay models for the well-known Tex Avery Wolf And Red statuettes and (naturally) the obligatory Tintin first editions. The most important piece included in this auction, in my opinion, is a full page ink drawing by Hugo Pratt, featuring sketches for “Les Chasseurs Alpins”. In this auction, prices range from 400 to 15,000 Euros.
(“la sandale” for Vanity Fair by Mattotti, from the Millon Associés auction, estimated at 800 to 1200 Euros)
A separate auction on Saturday is devoted to the work of French humorist Philippe Geluck and his character, Le Chat. Some thirty pieces from the artist’s personal collection are on offer, including inked cartoons, sketches and watercolours. Prices range from 500 to 7000 Euros.
One week later, Olivier Coutau-Begarie auctions off 468 first and rare editions, quite often from the famed Pilote series, and comics-related paraphernalia. Also included are original pieces by Bilal (a full-colour illustration), Challand, Giraud, Loisel and, again, Pratt (a late strip). A full listing of all lots is available on the website. With prices ranging from 30 to 12,000 Euros, this auction is perhaps less well-balanced than the other two. On the other hand, comics aficionados with a little less money to spare may have a bigger chance of finding a nice little piece here.
(“Cush” by Hugo Pratt, from the Olivier Coutau-Begarie auction, estimated to go for around 250 Euros)
For the Millon BD auctions, internet bids are still possible until Friday morning. The Geluck auction is still open for internet bids until Saturday morning. Online bids on any of the lots in the Coutau-Begarie auction are still open until June 5th.
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