Skip to main content
Curiosa

Grzegorz Rosiński & Jean Van Hamme - Thorgal 'Kriss' Portfolio & 2001 Commemorative Print

Thorgal Kriss portfolio folder with five character art plates and a 2001 Le Lombard commemorative comic print - view 1
1/3

Estimated value

$60 - $140

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Category

Prints & Posters

Brand

Le Lombard

Era

2001-2004

Origin

Belgium

Artist / Creator

Grzegorz Rosiński

Authenticity

Very High(85%)
3

GRZEGORZ ROSIŃSKI & JEAN VAN HAMME - THORGAL 'KRISS' PORTFOLIO & 2001 COMMEMORATIVE PRINT: IDENTIFICATION

Offset lithographic portfolio titled 'Thorgal Kriss' published by Le Lombard, comprising a blue card folder housing five plate-printed art plates dedicated to the character Kriss de Valnord, alongside a 2001 panoramic offset lithograph featuring a character montage from the series. The Kriss suite includes two full-color gouache and direct-color finished plates and three ink-and-wash preparatory character studies with printed facsimile signatures ('Rosiński'). The separate 2001 print measures approximately 30 x 40 cm on uncoated white wove paper, bearing the publisher's imprint 'Van Hamme / Rosinski - Le Lombard (Dargaud-Lombard S.A) 2001' in the lower left margin.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Franco-Belgian Bande Dessinée Tradition1980s to present

The practice of publishing independent portfolio cases ('tirages de tête' or 'portfolios d'ex-libris') for major comic creators expanded significantly through publishers like Le Lombard, Dupuis, and Casterman from the 1980s onward.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Bookstore signing sessions and festival exhibitions in Angoulême and Brussels where portfolios were distributed to premium tier subscribers and collectors

Meaning Through Time

Early 20th Century

Ex-libris functioned strictly as personalized ownership bookplates pasted inside book covers.

2000s

Ex-libris transitioned into standalone, collectible mini-art prints produced specifically for the comic art secondary market.

PRINT LINEAGE

Created during the high-demand era of Franco-Belgian bande dessinée deluxe editions, this portfolio documents Grzegorz Rosiński's transition toward direct-color painting in the 'Thorgal' saga around the publication of 'Le Barbare' (2002) and 'Kriss de Valnord' (2004). Le Lombard produced these ...
Created during the high-demand era of Franco-Belgian bande dessinée deluxe editions, this portfolio documents Grzegorz Rosiński's transition toward direct-color painting in the 'Thorgal' saga around the publication of 'Le Barbare' (2002) and 'Kriss de Valnord' (2004). Le Lombard produced these limited-distribution portfolios and ex-libris prints to accompany collector releases and bookstore promotions across the Franco-Belgian and Polish comic markets.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

Grzegorz Rosiński completely abandoned traditional pen-and-ink line art for direct oil and acrylic painting on board starting with Thorgal volume 27, 'Le Barbare', in 2002.

2

The character Kriss de Valnord debuted in 1985 in volume 9, 'Les Archers', after series writer Jean Van Hamme conceived her as a permanent mercenary foil to Thorgal.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • Publisher credits from Dargaud-Lombard S.A dated 2001 are printed in standard period typography.
How does authenticity detection work?

PRINT SPECIALIST'S TAKE

Paper Conservator & Print Specialist

Print Expert

Publisher imprints, character attributions, and paper format are clearly legible in the photographs. Confidence is calibrated at 0.90 pending verification of specific edition print counts.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Lower margin on panoramic print explicitly states 'Van Hamme / Rosinski - Le Lombard (Dargaud-Lombard S.A) 2001'.

CONDITION & GRADE

Near Mint (A-)

Grading breakdown

Crisp paper stock with sharp image fields; minor corner edge-rubbing on the outer folder and slight margin handling prevent a flawless Mint grade.

Condition

Clean white paper ground with sharp outer margins and no evidence of foxing or UV toning. The folder and separate print show slight handling softening at the peripheral corners.

PRINT MARKET VALUATION

$60 - $140

Updated: Oct 16, 2026

  • Market comparables from auctions & retail
  • Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
  • Current collector demand & trends
  • Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

  • User identified the portfolio as featuring Kriss de Valnord from the 'Thorgal' series by Rosiński, Van Hamme, and publisher Lombard, which matches the visual titling and lower-margin imprint.
  • Visual evidence confirms the presence of the 5 Kriss character graphics in the folder plus the supplementary 2001 print.

What Conflicted

  • User labeled the printing technique as 'litograficzne' (original stone lithographs), whereas visual inspection indicates commercial offset lithography on modern paper stock rather than hand-pulled fine art lithographs.

FROM THE CABINET OF

FT

fts

Wonderseeker•0 items

COMMENTS

ABOUT PRINTS & POSTERS

Vintage prints, posters, advertising signs, and graphic art.

Prints & Posters value and rarity guide

SHARE THIS CURIOSITY

Have your own curiosities to discover?

Scan Your Curiosity