The Ford Custom – Model Car – 29940 – 1/24 Scale

Size: 20.5cm x 7cm x 7cm. From ‘Destination Moon’. Material: Painted metal with resin and plastic. Comes in a perspex case in an outer box with accompanying brochure in French and English. Brand new. Mint condition. UPC: 29940

Destination Moon: A Brief Account

Destination Moon (Objectif Lune), first published in 1953, marks a decisive moment in The Adventures of Tintin series and in the history of European comics. Written and illustrated by Hergé (Georges Remi), it represents the point at which Tintin’s adventures entered the realm of science fiction—yet with a level of technical realism, research, and narrative sophistication that set new standards for the genre. The album, and its sequel Explorers on the Moon (On a marché sur la Lune, 1954), together form a meticulously imagined account of humankind’s journey to the Moon—produced more than fifteen years before the Apollo missions.

The story begins at Marlinspike Hall, where Professor Calculus reveals his latest and most ambitious project: the construction of a nuclear-powered rocket capable of reaching the Moon. To carry out this enterprise, he has been invited to the fictional European state of Syldavia, whose remote mountainous landscape provides the ideal location for a high-security research facility. Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Snowy accompany Calculus to Syldavia, where they soon find themselves drawn into a complex mixture of scientific endeavour, espionage, and moral questioning.

From a scientific standpoint, Destination Moon is remarkable for its technical authenticity. Hergé worked closely with experts in physics and aeronautics, most notably the Swiss engineer Alexis L. de Pommereul, to ensure that the rocket’s design and the associated infrastructure were credible. The resulting imagery—launch pads, control rooms, laboratories, and astronaut training equipment—anticipates real-world developments in space technology. The rocket itself, instantly recognisable by its red-and-white chequered livery, has since become an icon of 20th-century popular culture, symbolising optimism, precision, and the human drive for exploration.

Thematically, the story explores the intersection of science, ethics, and human ambition. Professor Calculus embodies the visionary scientist—brilliant yet innocent, devoted to knowledge rather than power. His invention of a nuclear propulsion system raises questions about technology’s moral responsibilities, a theme consistent with the anxieties of the early atomic age. Tintin, as ever, serves as the voice of conscience and reason, while Captain Haddock provides humour, humanity, and a counterweight to scientific abstraction.

Narratively, Destination Moon departs from the globe-trotting adventures of earlier Tintin albums. Much of the story unfolds in the confines of the Syldavian research centre, focusing on preparation, construction, and testing rather than action or travel. Yet Hergé sustains tension through espionage subplots—foreign agents attempt to infiltrate the project—and through the psychological strain of human endeavour at the limits of knowledge. The realism of the environment, combined with moments of slapstick and friendship, gives the story both intellectual weight and emotional warmth.

Artistically, the album demonstrates Hergé’s ligne claire style at its most refined. Every line is purposeful; every panel contributes to the sense of order and precision that mirrors the scientific subject matter. The visual language of modern technology—control panels, steel gantries, laboratory glassware, and mechanical apparatus—is rendered with architectural accuracy and almost cinematic clarity. Hergé’s use of perspective and scale, particularly in the scenes depicting the rocket’s assembly and testing, conveys the awe-inspiring magnitude of the enterprise.

Historically, Destination Moon must be understood within the post-war context of scientific optimism. The 1950s were an era in which nuclear energy and space exploration represented both hope and fear: the promise of progress alongside the shadow of destruction. Hergé captures this ambivalence with remarkable subtlety. His vision of space travel is not triumphalist but thoughtful—a celebration of human curiosity tempered by awareness of its potential consequences.

In cultural terms, the album’s influence has been profound. It introduced generations of readers to the idea of space travel as a serious scientific pursuit rather than mere fantasy. When the first astronauts landed on the Moon in 1969, many observers noted the uncanny similarities between NASA’s technology and Hergé’s earlier depictions—from spacesuits and airlocks to the modular layout of the lunar rocket.

Destination Moon also serves as a moral and philosophical turning point in Tintin’s world. It affirms Hergé’s belief in rational inquiry, international cooperation, and ethical responsibility—values that transcend politics and ideology. The story’s focus on teamwork, intelligence, and integrity makes it as relevant today as it was in the early years of the space race.

In sum, Destination Moon stands as one of Hergé’s great masterpieces: a synthesis of art, science, and storytelling that anticipated real history with visionary clarity. It is both a thrilling adventure and a meditation on human progress—a work that continues to inspire admiration for its imagination, precision, and profound faith in humanity’s pursuit of knowledge.

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• Authenticity and Provenance: Each item is meticulously researched and verified for authenticity and collation.
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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.