On June 8, the first Tintin cover art ever published was sold for just over $1.12 million by Heritage Auctions. The art was originally featured on The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 1: Tintin in the Land of the Soviets and is the first to include the titular character with his constant canine, Snowy. Drawn by artist and Tintin creator Hergé, the work is hugely sought after. Until recently, almost all of his surviving art was believed to be kept at the Hergé Museum in Louvain-la-Neuve, near Brussels. That’s why this rare, signed illustration was expected to break records.

Check out the Tintin cover below. The ink on paper illustration is dated around 1930 and measures 21 by 26 centimeters. In it, Hergé depicts Tintin carving a propeller out of wood, watched carefully by Snowy. Especially for a first ever cover, it’s a perfect introduction to the series. Tintin is an adventure comic following the titular boy and his dog across the world as they get themselves into and out of historical adventures.

Hergé, known also by his real name Georges Remi, is considered a pillar of European comics. This cover was provided by an anonymous owner and purchased anonymously as well. Heritage Auctions ranks as the number one auction house in the United States and has also sold famous comics works like Detective Comics #27.



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