On June 2, 2012 a rare 1932 cover illustration of “Tintin in America” by Hergé sold for a record 1.3 million euros ($1.6 million) at an auction, une vente aux enchères (oon vehnte owes onshare), presented by Artcurial in Paris. The Belgian comic book artist painted the Indian ink and gouache color cover, shown above, for the first edition of the book. The high value is due to the fact that this is one of only five such works of cover art remaining by Hergé. “The work has been sold at 1,338,509.20 Euros, costs included, by a person who wishes to remain anonymous,” stated a spokesman for the auctioneers. The same piece set a record the last time it came up for auction in 2008 when it sold for 764,218 Euros. This time, Artcurial expected the cover to break the one-million-Euro mark. The sale was part of a larger sale of Tintin-related memorabilia. There’s more interest than ever in the boy reporter since Steven Spielberg’s 2011 movie, for which a sequel is already pending.
One quality, the finest. 