Goscinny & Uderzo — Asterix the Gaul — First UK Edition, Third Impression

Goscinny & Uderzo — Asterix the Gaul — First UK Edition, Third Impression

GOSCINNY, René; UDERZO, Albert (illustrator).
Asterix the Gaul.
Leicester: Brockhampton Press. First UK edition, third impression. Quarto. Illustrated throughout in colour. Original pictorial laminated boards.

Description

A particularly bright and well-preserved third impression of the first UK edition of Asterix the Gaul, the first adventure in René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo’s internationally celebrated Asterix series.

Originally created by writer René Goscinny and artist Albert Uderzo, Asterix first appeared in the French magazine Pilote in 1959 before the first album, Astérix le Gaulois, was published in France in 1961. The English-language editions introduced British readers to the indomitable inhabitants of the small Gaulish village that continues to resist Roman occupation, with the series becoming one of the most successful and enduring European comic creations of the twentieth century.

This Brockhampton Press edition is from the first UK edition, third impression, retaining the distinctive early British pictorial-board design. The front cover depicts Asterix confronting a Roman soldier, watched by Obelix carrying his customary menhir, while the rear board shows Asterix following Obelix beneath the enormous stone. The original printed price of 12/- (60p) appears at the lower rear board, together with the early ISBN 340 04240 0.

The book is illustrated throughout in full colour, presenting Goscinny’s inventive narrative and Uderzo’s energetic cartoon artwork in the large quarto format particularly associated with the early Asterix albums. These early Brockhampton editions have a noticeably different visual character from later Hodder and paperback issues and are increasingly collected both as early British comic books and as part of the publication history of Asterix in English.

A notably fresh example of an early UK printing of the book which introduced Asterix, Obelix, Getafix and the famously unconquered Gaulish village to British readers.

Condition

Very good indeed. The pictorial laminated boards remain unusually bright and clean, with only very minor marks, light edge wear and slight creasing. The binding is tight and firm. Internally the pages are very nice and clean, with the colour illustrations remaining fresh and bright. A particularly attractive copy.

Bibliographical Details

Authors: René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo
Illustrator: Albert Uderzo
Title: Asterix the Gaul
Publisher: Brockhampton Press
Place of Publication: Leicester
Edition: First UK edition, third impression
Format: Quarto
Illustration: Illustrated throughout in colour
Binding: Original pictorial laminated boards
Printed Price: 12/- (60p)
ISBN: 340 04240 0
Condition: Very good indeed

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