Original drawing by Jean Giraud for the comic series Leutnant Blueberry
Original drawing by Jean Giraud (8.5.1938 - 10.03.2012) for the comic series Leutnant Blueberry. Here is the cover drawing for the German-language edition “Aufruhr im Westen” (Zack Album 19) from 1977
The originality was confirmed in 2024 by the French auction house Artcurial in Paris.
In a personal conversation with the employee responsible there, Saveria de Valence, a possible consignment there was discussed. Her price estimate at the time was between 40,000 and 60,000 euros. A price that could increase at auction, as she said at the time.
A few weeks after the personal conversation, we were informed that the auction would take place without any picture of the object. The drawing would not be shown online or in the auction catalog. Due to copyright issues, there would only be a text advertising the drawing in the auction catalog. The price estimate was corrected downwards almost simultaneously and probably for this reason.
We did NOT agree to these conditions and decided against marketing through Artcurial. Also because the justification is not tenable in any form according to German jurisdiction.
The conversation took place in the presence of an independent interpreter, who can of course testify to everything written here.
We are now launching the sale via our own website.
The cover illustration is completely black and white and was created by Jean Giraud for Koralle Verlag GmbH Berlin-Hamburg. First printed as the cover of the album “Leutnant Blueberry - Aufruhr im Western”,
which appeared in the Zack Album series in 1977. Technically recolored at the time.
It is strongly reminiscent of the cover of the French Blueberry edition “Láigle Solitäre” from 1967.
Unfortunately, we do not know why this was not used at the time, but why an original drawing was produced by Jean Giraud especially for the German-language edition.
A section of the drawing was later used again for a postcard published by Koralle Verlag.
The buyer receives this, a kind of photo print and the original print film sheet (see picture) together with the drawing.
We also supply an original edition of the Zack album 19.
The condition of the drawing is good. The small spots should be clearly visible in the picture.
The size is approx. 35 x 28 cm. The typical GIR signature is at the bottom right.
The object can of course be viewed here in Bremen. However, as we have to get it out of a safe, we need a few days to prepare it. We have added a watermark so that nobody can use our scan. If you are seriously interested in buying it, we can of course send you a picture without this watermark.
Provenance:
For many years the drawing was in the possession of Wolfgang J. Fuchs (September 6, 1945 - January 20, 2020)
Wolfgang J. Fuchs last lived in Munich and was a German non-fiction author, freelance journalist], comic book author, translator
and film expert. He is considered Germany's first comic researcher.
Before his death, he sold the drawing to the Munich collector Chris Krumm, who unfortunately died only two years later.
unfortunately died only two years later and whose estate we have taken over in its entirety.
Price: 60,000 euros (net).
The amount of VAT depends on the buyer's country of origin. Traders please ask about the additional VAT.
