John Blanche’s 1983 Warhammer cover art featuring Harry the Hammer is heading to Christie’s London auction and is expected to sell for up to £400,000!
Every so often, something surfaces that hits Warhammer fans right in the member berries. This time, it’s not a miniature or a rulebook; it’s the piece that started it all.
John Blanche’s iconic 1983 cover art for Warhammer Fantasy Battle, featuring the skull-smashing legend Harry the Hammer, is heading to auction at Christie’s London on December 11. And with estimates reaching a jaw-dropping £400,000, this might be the priciest hammer swing in hobby history.
The Art That Launched a Thousand Armies
Before Space Marines, before the Old World fell, before Warhammer 40,000 even existed, there was Harry the Hammer. Clad in jagged armor and standing atop a pile of skulls, he defined what “grimdark” meant before the term existed.
Created in ink and gouache, and signed “J. Blanche. 83,” this artwork wasn’t just a cover; it was a mission statement. Blanche’s heavy-metal aesthetic screamed rebellion against clean fantasy art. His vision turned tabletop gaming from sterile charts and tokens into a full-blown world of narrative and chaos.
Commissioned by the late Bryan Ansell, the artwork has sat quietly in his private collection for over 40 years. Now, it’s stepping into the spotlight, ready to take its rightful place as fine art, not just a cool old book cover.
Harry The Hammer: Warhammer’s Big Swing
Let’s be honest, few would have guessed that a game born in a Nottingham backroom would grow into a global powerhouse worth so much. Games Workshop now rakes in more than £261 million in profit a year, and its universe of Space Marines, gods, and ghouls has fans painting, gaming, and collecting across the globe.
But back in 1983, none of that existed. It started with a handful of dreamers, a rulebook, and Blanche’s moody masterpiece. His art didn’t just sell a game; it sold the feeling that this world was dangerous, bloody, and bigger than anyone imagined.
That feeling is what made Warhammer, well… Warhammer
The Auction That Feels Like a Homecoming
When that hammer falls at Christie’s London on December 11, it’ll be history circling back to where it began. From the late-night painting sessions in Nottingham to a global audience of millions, Harry the Hammer’s journey mirrors Warhammer’s own rise.
For hobbyists, this isn’t just about money or rarity. It’s about seeing the roots of the game we love treated with the respect it deserves.
Harry The Hammer Is Still Swinging After 40 Years
Artist John Blanche
Harry isn’t just the guy on the cover; he’s a cultural cornerstone. His scowling helm and raised hammer became the blueprint for the Warhammer attitude. You can see echoes of him in Chaos Warriors, Sigmar’s champions, and even modern designs from Age of Sigmar and The Old World.
He’s the reason the term “Warhammer aesthetic” means something specific: spikes, grit, and a hint of beautiful madness. The art that kicked off a billion-pound empire is finally being recognized alongside fine art legends.
Heck, even the second edition 40k Eldar Codex cover sold for over $60,00 recently.
Either way, four decades later, Harry the Hammer is still doing what he does best: standing tall, looking mean, and making history.
John Blanche didn’t just draw a warrior back then; he drew the World of Warhammer. And now, that world is about to make headlines all over again.
See the Best Minis From the Last 40 Years of GW!
