The original cover art for the classic Asterix graphic novel, Asterix and the Banquet (French title, Le Tour de Gaule) was auctioned in Paris recently, fetching a remarkable €1.4m. The illustration for the 1965 book was signed by Asterix creators Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny and had been expected to fetch around €200,000. The art for the cover of Asterix and the Chieftain’s Shield raised €1.2 million in the same sale at the Drouot auction house. The auction came ahead of the October launch of the 37th book in the series, Asterix and the Chariot Race.