Best of 2025 :: Published/Unpublished Non-Comic Cover, Pin-ups, Illustrations, Gaming Art

The Tinderbox - Dog & Princess - Bolland & Birkett

Owner: Sean I
Artists: Brian Bolland (Penciller) , Rachel Birkett (Inker)

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Artwork Details

Title:	The Tinderbox - Dog & Princess - Bolland & Birkett
Artist:	Brian Bolland (Penciller)
Artist:	Rachel Birkett (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Illustration
Views:	76
Likes on CAF:	5 6
Added to Site:	12/2/2025

Description

The Tinderbox was one of my favorite Hans Christian Andersen stories. This image is of "The dog with eyes the size of saucers" and the sleeping princess from that story.

I've always wanted to own Bolland art, I think he's one of the all time greats, but they've always been far out of my price range. I've seen some really fantastic prelims that I've passed on and regretted, and some that I missed out on altogether. Thankfully he and his wife have started to part with some of these early collaborations. Rachel is also a fantastic artist, and has credited comic book collaborations with Brian and other non-credited ghosting collaborations, apparently.

He's never lost a step, but this would have been done in 1987, well after his early success with 2000AD and DC, but before the Killing Joke, so prime era. Brian penciled all of the illustrations for this HCA Tales collection and Rachel did the inking (and painted colors on a few). I was able to track down a copy of the book which I have included in the additional images. If you can find one I recommend it, I think Rachel's linework is as strong as Brian's and all of the characters definitely have the Bolland faces and design shining through. This one is a fine example of that, and I'm grateful to have it. Thanks to Brian, Rachel, and Joseph.

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About the Owner

	Sean I ( 1 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	April 2021
Last Login:	January 2026
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Sean's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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