A rare copy of the Tintin comic series sold for over Rs 47 lakh

Figurines from the comic strip Tintin by Brussels-born author Georges Remi, better known as Herge, are displayed in a shop at the Herge Museum in Louvain-La-Neuve December 1, 2011. Belgians have flocked to see "The Adventures of Tintin - The Secret of the Unicorn", a new film by U.S. director Stephen Spielberg which brings to life the fictional exploits of a cartoon character who is a household name in Europe. Belgians, proud of a comic strip history which also includes the Smurfs, Gaston and Lucky Luke hope the movie inspires Americans to delve into the original Tintin books, and to discover more about Belgium. Picture taken December 1, 2011. REUTERS/Yves Herman/Herge-Moulinsart 2011 (BELGIUM - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - GM1E7C51T6901

A rare limited edition copy of popular comic series 'Tintin' has been sold for over Rs 47 lakh. The copy, which is a 1943 alternative edition of the Tintin story “'L’lle Noire” (The Black Island) had created a frenzy on the internet after the news of the bidding had emerged.

The book is the seventh volume in “The Adventures of Tintin” series by Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi, who wrote under the pen name Hergé in the 30’s and 40’s.

Source: Catawiki

The auctioned comic book, as per Catawiki - the online auction platform which sold the comic book, is a ‘very rare and exceptional album.’ As per them, the book is one of the only three known copies that are remaining in the world.

But what makes this copy particularly valuable is the fact that it was used privately by Tintin illustrator Hergé for correction and rectification.

Patrick Vranken, comic book expert from Catawiki was quoted in a report by Mirror saying that the “book in the auction… was later used by Hergé as a working document to prepare a modern version of the original book…  (It) is full of corrected drawings and handwritten notes. The book is unique and can be considered an exceptional piece of comic history."

Rare comic books have always created a large amount of interest among collectors. Last year, Catawiki had auctioned another comic book belonging to the Tintin series that got sold for approximately Rs 27 lakh.