The Ford Model T – Model Car – 29905 – La Ford T – 1/24 Scale – Second Edition

Author: Hergé & Editions Moulinsart
Price: £90.00
Manufacturer: Editions Moulinsart
Format: Original pictorial wrappers with car on plinth in perspex case
Condition: New. In excellent condition. Model car and book are both unopened
Edition: Second Edition
Date: 2025

Description:

The second edition of this model which is dated 2025 in the booklet. The first edition was dated 2019 and sold out very quickly. Size: 20.5cm x 7cm x 7cm. From ‘Tintin In The Congo’. 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: 299052

Tintin In The Congo: A Brief Account

Tintin in the Congo (Tintin au Congo), first published in 1931, is the second volume in The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé (Georges Remi). It remains one of the most discussed and controversial works in the series—an early example of Hergé’s storytelling skill, yet one that also reflects the colonial attitudes and racial stereotypes of its era. Today it is regarded as both a historical document of European thought in the early twentieth century and a formative step in Hergé’s artistic and moral development.

The story follows Tintin, a young Belgian reporter, and his dog Snowy as they travel to the Belgian Congo, then under colonial rule. Their official purpose is journalistic, but Tintin soon becomes involved in a series of adventures involving big-game hunting, local wildlife, diamond smugglers, and hostile tribesmen. Throughout, Tintin acts as the intrepid, morally upright hero typical of early adventure fiction—resourceful, brave, and self-assured—but the narrative framework is deeply shaped by the paternalistic ideology of the period.

From a stylistic standpoint, Tintin in the Congo displays Hergé’s emerging artistic precision. His drawings, though less refined than in later albums, already reveal the foundations of the ligne claire style: clean outlines, clear composition, and a narrative rhythm guided by visual clarity. The African landscapes, animals, and colonial infrastructure—such as steam trains, mission schools, and trading posts—are depicted with a mixture of imaginative curiosity and second-hand observation, as Hergé had never visited Africa. His references came largely from missionary journals, Belgian press imagery, and illustrated travel books of the late 1920s, which presented the Congo through a Eurocentric and idealised lens.

Thematically, the album reflects the colonial mindset of the time, portraying Africans as naïve, childlike, and dependent on European guidance. Tintin is presented as a benevolent figure who “educates” and protects the locals—a narrative deeply problematic by modern standards. Scenes involving Tintin teaching lessons to Congolese children, hunting animals for sport, or treating the inhabitants with patronising familiarity are now widely recognised as offensive. Modern readers and scholars interpret these depictions as a product of the colonial propaganda prevalent in Belgium during the interwar years.

In later life, Hergé expressed discomfort with the attitudes shown in Tintin in the Congo. He acknowledged that, at the time, he had been influenced by the uncritical worldview of his environment—particularly the Catholic, colonialist publications for which he was working as a young illustrator. His later works, notably The Blue Lotus (1936), show a significant moral and intellectual evolution: a shift towards cultural empathy, political awareness, and respect for non-European societies.

Despite its ideological shortcomings, Tintin in the Congo also reveals early signs of Hergé’s storytelling craft—his pacing, his eye for humour, and his fascination with technology and adventure. The action sequences are energetic, and the depiction of Tintin’s ingenuity—building rafts, repairing vehicles, and outwitting villains—foreshadows the qualities that would define his later, more mature adventures.

Modern editions of the album are frequently accompanied by contextual introductions or disclaimers, explaining its historical background and warning readers about its outdated and offensive portrayals. It is now studied as an example of colonial-era popular culture, valuable less for its narrative content than for what it reveals about European attitudes towards Africa in the early twentieth century.

In literary and cultural terms, Tintin in the Congo stands as a transitional work—artistically significant but ethically troubling. It documents the early stages of Hergé’s development as an artist while exposing the biases of his time. As such, it serves as both an object of critical reflection and a reminder of how far the Tintin series—and its creator—would evolve in sophistication, empathy, and human understanding.

The Ford Model T: A Brief Account

The Ford Model T is one of the most significant vehicles in automotive history, representing the moment when the motorcar became accessible to ordinary people. Produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1908 to 1927, it transformed global industry, personal mobility, and social life. Designed by Henry Ford and his team of engineers, the Model T was conceived not as a luxury item but as a practical, affordable means of transport for farmers, workers, and families—earning it the enduring nickname “the car that put the world on wheels.”

At its core, the Model T was a triumph of simplicity, durability, and mass production. It featured a 2.9-litre, four-cylinder engine producing around 20 horsepower, capable of propelling the car to speeds of approximately 40–45 mph (65–72 km/h). Power was transmitted via a two-speed planetary gearbox, operated by foot pedals rather than a conventional gear lever—a design that made it easy to drive, even for beginners. The car’s rear-wheel drive and high ground clearance made it suitable for the rough, unpaved roads common in rural areas of early 20th-century America and abroad.

The Model T’s most revolutionary feature, however, lay not in its mechanical design but in its method of manufacture. In 1913, Ford introduced the moving assembly line, a system that reduced production time from twelve hours to about ninety minutes per vehicle. This innovation allowed the company to increase output dramatically and lower costs, making the Model T affordable to a vast market. By the mid-1920s, it was possible to purchase one for under $300, an extraordinary achievement in industrial efficiency and social accessibility.

Structurally, the Model T used a simple ladder-frame chassis and a light but robust steel body. Early versions were available in several colours, but by 1914, Ford famously offered the car “in any colour so long as it’s black,” a decision based on the rapid-drying properties of black enamel paint that suited the assembly line’s pace. The Model T’s mechanical layout also made it easy to maintain and repair—an essential feature for customers far from urban service centres.

The design evolved incrementally over its nineteen-year production run, but its character remained constant: honest, adaptable, and indestructible. It could be fitted with numerous body styles, including tourers, roadsters, vans, and pickup variants. Rural owners often modified their cars for multiple purposes—hauling goods, running machinery via the engine’s power take-off, or even operating as makeshift tractors. Its versatility made it indispensable in both town and countryside.

Culturally, the Ford Model T became a symbol of early modernity and democratic progress. It gave unprecedented mobility to millions, collapsing distances between home, work, and recreation. The car changed patterns of settlement and commerce, encouraged tourism, and contributed to the growth of road infrastructure. In America, it came to embody independence and opportunity, while in Europe, South America, and Africa—where the car was also assembled—it became a durable workhorse adapted to local conditions.

From a design perspective, the Model T’s appeal lies in its functional beauty. Every component was designed with purpose: the spoked wooden wheels, the upright radiator, the lantern-style headlamps, and the exposed mechanical parts all convey an honesty of construction that modern industrial designers continue to admire.

By the time production ceased in 1927, over 15 million units had been built—an achievement that stood as a world record for decades. Its successor, the Ford Model A, ushered in a new era of refinement, but the Model T’s influence endured far beyond its production life.

Today, the Ford Model T is celebrated not merely as a car but as a cultural and technological landmark. Museums, collectors, and vintage motoring enthusiasts continue to preserve and drive surviving examples, many of which remain fully functional more than a century after their manufacture.

In historical and symbolic terms, the Model T represents the birth of mass mobility—a moment when industrial ingenuity met social transformation. It stands as a testament to Henry Ford’s vision of affordable innovation and to the enduring power of simplicity, utility, and human ambition in shaping the modern world.

Why Buy from Us?

At Hornseys, we are committed to offering items that meet the highest standards of quality and authenticity. Our collection of objects and rare books are carefully curated to ensure each edition is a valuable piece of bibliographical history. Here’s what sets us apart:

• 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.