When Artcurial announced its special Hergé auction- “L’univers du créateur de Tintin” (The universe of the creator of Tintin), Tintin fans were definitely excited to get their hands on some priceless memorabilia of their favorite comic book hero. By the end of the sale, which took place this Saturday in Paris, it was clear that price is definitely no Tintin fans’ criteria. In fact, bidders boosted the values of two historic artworks so much that the two artworks together fetched more than €300,000 ($422,720) at this sale. The aforementioned Tintin museum pieces were an original and very scarce 1942 Tintin adventure, Les Cigars Du Pharaon (Cigars of the Pharaoh) and a priceless Hergé work dated 1939 and signed by Hergé himself and titled Le Sceptre D’Ottokar (King Ottokar’s Sceptre).
The original unblemished first edition starring Tintin Les Cigars Du Pharaon fetched a cool €35,032 ($48,922) while the Hergé autographed Le Sceptre D’Ottokar fetched a whopping €307,800 ($433,710)! The exquisite work, which is labeled a museum piece and said to be in excellent condition, the Le Sceptre D’Ottokar is considered one of Hergé’s vast canon highlights.
This latest sale highlights the frenzy and hype that the famed comic book character still manages to generate.
[PaulFraserCollectibles]
