René Goscinny & Albert Uderzo — Asterix and Cleopatra — First UK Edition, 1969

René Goscinny & Albert Uderzo — Asterix and Cleopatra — First UK Edition, 1969

GOSCINNY, René; UDERZO, Albert.
Asterix and Cleopatra.
Leicester: Brockhampton Press, 1969. First UK edition. Quarto. Illustrated throughout in colour. Original pictorial laminated boards.

Description

A bright and attractive first UK edition of Asterix and Cleopatra, published by Brockhampton Press in 1969 and one of the earliest British Asterix books.

Originally published in French as Astérix et Cléopâtre, the story sends Asterix and Obelix to Egypt with Getafix, who has been called upon to help Cleopatra’s architect complete an immense palace for Julius Caesar within an impossibly short timescale. What follows combines travel, historical parody, architectural chaos, palace intrigue and Goscinny’s characteristic verbal humour.

This is one of the most famous early Asterix adventures and an important title in the development of the series. René Goscinny’s script uses ancient Egypt as a setting for satire on bureaucracy, artistic temperament, deadlines and imperial rivalry, while Albert Uderzo’s artwork makes particularly effective use of Egyptian architecture, monumental sculpture and visual parody.

The English translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge was central to the successful introduction of Asterix to British readers. Their work is particularly admired for its imaginative recreation of Goscinny’s wordplay, names and jokes in idiomatic English.

The title-page gives the Brockhampton Press imprint, while the copyright page states “First published in Great Britain 1969” and records the English-language copyright as 1969 Brockhampton Press Ltd. The rear board is also bibliographically interesting, listing only Asterix the Gaul beneath the familiar image of Asterix following Obelix and his menhir, reflecting the very early position of this title in the British publication sequence.

The original printed price of 12/- (60p) and ISBN 340 04239 7 appear on the rear board.

A desirable first British edition from the inaugural period of Asterix publication in English, surviving as a bright and internally very clean copy.

Condition

Good. The original pictorial laminated boards are generally bright and clean, with minor marks and light creasing. There is splitting to the laminate at the corner where the spine meets the front board, with associated darkening to the exposed paper board in this area. The binding remains tight and firm.

Internally, the pages are very nice and clean throughout, with the colour illustrations retaining their freshness and brightness. Despite the localised laminate fault, the book remains an attractive, bright and presentable example of this early first UK edition.

Bibliographical Details

Authors: René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo
Illustrator: Albert Uderzo
Title: Asterix and Cleopatra
Original French Title: Astérix et Cléopâtre
Translators: Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge
Publisher: Brockhampton Press
Place of Publication: Leicester
Date: 1969
Edition: First UK edition
Format: Quarto
Illustration: Illustrated throughout in colour
Binding: Original pictorial laminated boards
Printed Price: 12/- (60p)
ISBN: 340 04239 7
Condition: Good

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