Haddock In A Lunar Spacesuit – Figurines Tintin La Collection Officielle – 101 – Haddock En Scaphandre Lunaire

Author: Hergé & Editions Moulinsart
Price: £90.00
Publisher: Editions Moulinsart
Publication date: 2015
Format: Original pictorial boards with passport and figurine
Condition: In near fine condition
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout

Description:

Original pictorial boards. Includes passport loosely inserted. Text in French. Includes the accompanying figurine. One from the collection of 111 books and figurines. Very slight wear. In very near fine, clean condition overall.

Captain Haddock: A Short Biography

Captain Archibald Haddock is one of the central figures in Hergé’s The Adventures of Tintin, introduced partway through the series but quickly becoming Tintin’s closest companion. A sea captain by profession, Haddock is distinguished by his colourful personality, his struggle with personal weaknesses, and his ultimate transformation into a figure of loyalty, courage, and humanity. He brings warmth, humour, and emotional depth to the stories, complementing Tintin’s upright and selfless character.

Character Profile

Captain Haddock is typically depicted as a bearded, stocky man with a ruddy complexion, wearing a navy-blue jumper emblazoned with an anchor, a dark seaman’s cap, and a heavy coat. His appearance reflects his nautical background, while his mannerisms blend gruffness with endearing vulnerability.

He is renowned for his explosive temper and his inventive outbursts of insult—often comic, imaginative, and memorable. Beneath this fiery exterior, Haddock possesses a generous heart, showing great affection for Tintin, Professor Calculus, and others within his circle. His battle with alcohol, particularly whisky, is a recurring motif. While it provides humour, it also humanises him, portraying him as a flawed but redeemable man.

First Appearance: The Crab with the Golden Claws

Haddock is introduced in The Crab with the Golden Claws, where Tintin discovers him as a ship’s captain in the grip of alcoholism, manipulated by unscrupulous associates. Initially pitiable, he reveals himself to be brave and resourceful once freed from exploitation. His rescue by Tintin begins a friendship that defines the remainder of the series.

Development Across the Series

Over time, Haddock undergoes a transformation from a vulnerable, somewhat broken figure into a man of dignity and responsibility. A pivotal moment comes in Red Rackham’s Treasure, when he discovers Marlinspike Hall, the ancestral home of his family. Taking ownership of this estate with Tintin’s support allows him to reclaim his lineage and provides a stable base for later adventures.

In The Shooting Star and The Secret of the Unicorn, Haddock demonstrates both courage and comic ineptitude, highlighting his dual role as both hero and humourist. By Explorers on the Moon, he shows his capacity for immense bravery, joining Tintin on one of the most perilous journeys ever undertaken.

His relationship with Professor Calculus is marked by both exasperation and loyalty. Haddock is frequently frustrated by Calculus’s absent-mindedness but ultimately defends and supports him, as seen in The Calculus Affair. His bond with Tintin is even stronger: while Tintin is calm, principled, and almost superhumanly resilient, Haddock provides the emotional counterpart—impulsive, deeply human, and fiercely loyal.

Personality and Traits

Haddock is a man of contradictions. He is both short-tempered and compassionate, impulsive yet capable of remarkable bravery. His fondness for drink is a flaw that occasionally endangers him but also provides many of the series’ comic highlights. His creative vocabulary of insults—often nautical or archaic—serves as a release for his frustrations while delighting readers with their absurdity.

At heart, Haddock is defined by loyalty. Once Tintin rescues him, he dedicates himself wholly to their friendship, showing unwavering courage in the face of danger. His flaws make him relatable, while his acts of bravery elevate him to heroism.

Thematic Significance

Hergé created Haddock to add humanity and emotional texture to Tintin’s adventures. Where Tintin is sometimes almost too perfect, Haddock is recognisably human: irritable, flawed, but ultimately good. Their partnership reflects the balance between idealism and realism, showing how friendship between very different personalities can produce strength.

Captain Haddock also serves as a vehicle for humour. His outbursts, clumsiness, and comic misunderstandings prevent the stories from becoming overly solemn. Yet his role is not only comic relief; his growth from a broken sailor to the master of Marlinspike Hall mirrors themes of redemption, resilience, and identity.

Legacy

Captain Haddock is among the most beloved characters in the Tintin canon. His humanity, humour, and depth transformed the series after his introduction, ensuring that Tintin’s adventures were not solely tales of detective work and exploration but also stories of friendship and loyalty. His presence enriches the emotional landscape of the series, making him a character of lasting significance.

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Cataloguer: Daniel Hornsey

Daniel Hornsey has specialised in fine and rare books, ephemera, and collectors’ editions for over thirty years. As a long-standing member of the antiquarian book trade, he has advised private collectors, curated catalogues, and sourced works for leading dealers, libraries and institutions across the world.

Hornseys’ exhibit regularly at book and map fairs in London and throughout the UK and are members of the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association, the PBFA.

His fascination with Hergé’s work — especially ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ — began in childhood. Daniel recalls reading Tintin in original European editions and quickly recognising that these were not merely children’s books, but finely illustrated narratives crafted with artistic depth and wit.

As noted by the Musée Hergé in Louvain-la-Neuve, Hergé’s ‘ligne claire’ style has influenced generations of European comic artists and his original drawings and paintings command very high prices with his painting of ‘The Blue Lotus’ jar fetching £2.8m at auction in 2021.

By presenting these works through Hornseys’, he hopes to contribute to the continued appreciation of one of the 20th century’s most influential illustrators, helping new generations discover the artistry and legacy of Hergé.