“Artworks from Underground Comix – especially from masters such as Robert Crumb – are becoming recognised in the fine art world as cultural cornerstones.”
This was the comment of Barry Sandoval, director of comic operations at Heritage Auctions (19.5% buyer’s premium) following a $8.3m, May 18 sale in which three of the top four lots featured Crumb’s work.
Bid to $600,000 (£465,115) was this cover artwork for a collection of stories published in 1969 by Ballantine and featuring one of Crumb’s earlier and most popular creations, Fritz the Cat – seen here cosying up with his girlfriend, Charlene.