Surreal SF art of Karel Thole, and more, offered at auction

By John Freeman on January 30, 2025

Online auction house Catawiki is currently offering a catlogue of original art by Dutch illustrator Karel Thole, a true master of Sci-Fi Surrealism.

The auction includes a selection of covers commissioned for Dutch editions of SF novels by authors such as Ben Bova and David Gerrold.

Original cover art by Karel Thole for the collection “L’Astronave dell’Esilio” (“The Exiles Trilogy” by Ben Bova published by Mondadori in the “Biblioteca di Urania” series No. 9 in 1981
Original cover art by Karel Thole for the novel “Pària dei Cieli” (“Pebble in the Sky”) by Isaac Asimov, published in “Classici di Urania” n. 95 by Mondadori in 1985
Original cover art by Karel Thole for the novel “L’Ombra dell’Astronave” “Yesterday’s Children”) by David Gerrold, published in “I Romanzi di Urania” No. 907
Original art by Karel Thole for “Sguardo dell’infinito” (“The Gaze of Infintiy”) by Michel Quoist, edition unknown
Original cover art by Karel Thole for the novel “Il Licantropo” (“The Werewolf”) by Hivar Kelasker published in no. 56 of the “Vampir” series published in Germany in the early 1970s with the title “Der Werwolf”

Carolus Adrianus Maria Thole (20th April 1914 – 26th March 2000) was a Dutch-Italian painter and illustrator whose early cartoon work in the 1930s is anathema, but who went on to become a highly regarded artist creating covers for various magazines and books. He’s best known, perhaps, for his work for the Italian science fiction magazine Urania, where his deep art culture, taste for surrealism and weird sense of humour could show at their best.

He also worked on a host of other series for publisher Mondadori, including mysteries and romantic titles for women.

• Catawiki Comic Artworks Auction (Karel Thole – Metaphysical) runs until Wednesday 5th February 2025

• Karel Thole at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database

• Wikipedia: Karel Thole

• Fantascienza: Una persona che non dimenticherò mai: Karel Thole
A tribute to Thole’s art (in Italian). First published in magazine Delos Science Fiction 55 in April 2000

• Mondourania.com
A site with all the Thole covers for the science fiction magazine Urania

• CVltNation: The Morbid Sci-Fi Surrealism of Karel Thole
A gallery of covers

• SF-Fan.de – Karel Thole (1914-2000)
Obituary in German, with German Thole covers

About the Author
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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.

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