Asterix drawing sells for record 1.4m euros in Paris

An original illustration for the cover of one of the early Asterix comic books has sold for a record €1.4m at auction in Paris, more than seven times its expected price.

The drawing for the 1964 Asterix and the Banquet was signed by both creators of the legendary series, Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny,

The famed Asterix characters are set to return next week with the publication of the 37th book in the series. Asterix and the Chariot Race, set in ancient Italy.

Hundreds of millions of Asterix books recounting the adventures of the shrewd Gallic hero Asterix and his rotund sidekick Obelix have been published since the series first began in 1961.