Moebius tribute by Geof Darrow a highlight of this week’s Catawiki International Original Comics Art Auction

By John Freeman on January 2, 2023

There’s some British comic art-related items in this week’s Catawiki International Original Comics Art Auction, but the highlights are probably work by American artist Geof Darrow and award-winning aviation artist Giuseppe De Luca.

Attracting strong bidding is a tribute to Moebius by Geof Darrow. Darrow, collaborated with Moebius on the La cité feu portfolio, published back in 1985, and on offer is a marker and pencil drawings of one of the Moebius characters.

A page from the 1973 “The Trigan Empire” story, “The House of the Five Moons”, first published in Look and Learn, art by Don Lawrence. The story was published as The Doppelgänger in Europe.

Another page from the “Robot Archie” story, “Bodyguard to the The Menaced Rajah”, art by Ted Kearon, first seen in Lion, issue cover dated 2nd January 1960.

A page from the “Robot Archie” story, “Bodyguard to the The Menaced Rajah”, art by Ted Kearon (1960)

Some “Buck Danny” character designs by Italian creator Giuseppe De Luca are attracting plenty of bids, buoyed, no doubt by his award for creating the Best Comicbook d’aviation Album last year, highlighted by his partner, colourist Ketty Formaggio.

The auction also features comic art and illustration from across Europe and beyond, by artists that include Jordi Bernet, Hans Kress, Sirius, Marcel Uderzo and Piet Wien, and manga artists such as Santa Wakamiya.

• This week’s Catawiki International Original Comics Art Auction, closes at 7.00pm on Thursday 5th January 2023 – view the full catalogue here

Potential Additional International Auction Costs

This advice box was last updated on Friday 6th May 2022

The UK’s departure from the European Union means there may be additional import duties on sales.

Prior to Brexit, the effective rate of UK tax on imports of art was 5%, which is lower than most other European countries. An owner could previously import an artwork to the UK from outside the EU and was then free to transport it to other EU countries, where the import tax rates may be higher, without incurring any further import-related tax charges. If the owner then wished to bring the artwork back to the UK, there would also have been no further tax charge.

The Guardian previously reported that online orders up to £135 are now supposed to have the UK’s prevailing VAT rate added at the point of sale by the EU retailer, which has to have registered with HM Revenue & Customs.

While buying from European sellers carries the sting of larger costs, the auction house Catawiki does now endeavour to provide an estimate of those in its lot descriptions.

Unfortunately, many smaller EU-based retailers have decided that the paperwork of collecting UK VAT is not worth the hassle and as a result will no longer supply UK consumers. It has also meant that some British sellers will no longer export to Europe.

This apolitical guide outlines what you should be aware of when buying or selling art internationally but is a work in progress

• Don’t forget Catawiki runs several regular auctions, including a dedicated US Comics auction, too – check out all the current lots on offer here

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.