The Adventures Of Tintin – Explorers On The Moon – Pop-Up Book – First Edition

Author: Hergé
Price: £65
Publisher: Methuen
Publication Date: 1992
Format: Original pictorial boards
Condition: Near fine
Size: 21.3cm x 27.4cm
Pages: 24
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout in colour and in black and white by Hergé

Description:

Published by Methuen, London, UK, 1992. 1st edition. Original pictorial boards. Size: 21.3cm x 27.4cm. Pp. 24. Illustrated throughout in colour by the author and including numerous pop-ups. Slightly creased else a very near fine, tight, clean copy.

Explorers On The Moon: A Brief Summary

Explorers on the Moon, first published in French in 1954, is the seventeenth volume in Hergé’s The Adventures of Tintin series. It is the direct sequel to Destination Moon and depicts Tintin, Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, and their companions undertaking one of the most ambitious journeys in comic history: the first manned expedition to the Moon. Combining scientific plausibility with thrilling adventure, the story is a landmark in both the Tintin canon and the history of graphic storytelling.

Setting the Stage

The narrative begins with Tintin, Captain Haddock, Snowy, and the detectives Thomson and Thompson in Syldavia, where Professor Calculus has designed and constructed a nuclear-powered rocket. Following the preparations described in Destination Moon, the team is now ready for launch. Suspense mounts as the group undergoes final checks, with Hergé paying close attention to scientific detail in his depiction of the rocket and its systems.

The Journey to the Moon

The launch sequence is portrayed with dramatic realism. Tintin and his companions experience the crushing force of acceleration and, once in space, the effects of weightlessness. Hergé’s illustrations vividly capture their astonishment as objects float freely around the cabin. Both humour and tension abound: Haddock’s attempt to sip whisky in zero gravity ends in comic chaos, while Thomson and Thompson struggle with disorientation.

Midway through the journey, Tintin discovers a stowaway—Colonel Jorgen, a saboteur who had previously appeared in Destination Moon. His presence adds danger to the mission, as his attempts at sabotage threaten both the crew’s safety and the success of the expedition.

Arrival on the Moon

After overcoming these challenges, the rocket touches down on the lunar surface, marking a historic moment. Tintin becomes one of the first fictional characters in literature to set foot on the Moon, years before the real-life Apollo landings. The lunar landscape is depicted with barren realism: craters, rocks, and the eerie silence of space create an atmosphere of awe and isolation.

The crew conducts explorations in pressurised suits, collecting rock samples and setting up equipment. Snowy, ever loyal, accompanies Tintin, adding moments of levity to the otherwise stark environment. Haddock, although fearful and often clumsy, proves his courage in the face of adversity.

Conflict and Sabotage

Colonel Jorgen’s sabotage escalates during the Moon mission, placing the entire expedition at risk. Tensions rise as the limited oxygen supply becomes a critical factor. Calculus’s calm rationality, Tintin’s resourcefulness, and Haddock’s determination combine to outwit the saboteur, but the stakes remain high throughout.

Return to Earth

With their mission completed and oxygen reserves dwindling, the explorers prepare for the return journey. The suspense intensifies as technical difficulties and the lingering threat of sabotage challenge the crew’s survival. Ultimately, their perseverance ensures the rocket’s safe return to Earth, bringing their unprecedented adventure to a triumphant conclusion.

Themes and Significance

Explorers on the Moon reflects Hergé’s meticulous research into contemporary science and technology. The story anticipates many features of real lunar exploration, including weightlessness, pressurised suits, and the challenges of life-support systems. Beyond its scientific dimension, the book explores themes of loyalty, courage, and the triumph of ingenuity over adversity.

The introduction of space travel into Tintin’s world expanded the series’ scope, transforming it from globe-trotting adventure to interplanetary exploration. The book also stands as a cultural artefact of post-war optimism, embodying humanity’s aspiration to push beyond earthly boundaries.

Conclusion

Explorers on the Moon is both a thrilling adventure and a visionary work of speculative fiction. By blending scientific accuracy with drama and humour, Hergé created a narrative that captured readers’ imaginations decades before the Moon landings became reality. It remains one of the most celebrated Tintin volumes, a story that combines technical foresight, narrative brilliance, and enduring human themes of bravery and discovery.

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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.