Captain Haddock’s Convertible – The Lincoln Zephyr – Model Car – 29902 – La Décapotable du Capitaine Haddock – 1/24 Scale – First Edition

Author: Hergé & Editions Moulinsart
Price: £225.00
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: First Edition
Date: 2019

Description:

The scarce first edition of this model, dated 2019 in the booklet, which sold out very quickly. Size: 20.5cm x 7cm x 7cm. From ‘The Seven Crystal Balls’. 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: 29902

The Lincoln Zephyr: A Brief Account

The Lincoln Zephyr, produced between 1936 and 1942, is one of the most significant American cars of the pre-war era. Elegant, streamlined, and technologically advanced, it represented Lincoln’s shift from an exclusive luxury marque to a brand capable of offering refined, modern motoring to a broader audience. The Zephyr remains notable for its aerodynamic styling, its innovative construction, and its role in shaping mid-century American automotive design.

Origins and Purpose

By the mid-1930s, Lincoln faced financial pressure. Its large, expensive V12 models were admired but sold in limited numbers. To ensure survival, Lincoln needed a more affordable yet still prestige-oriented car.

The solution was the Lincoln-Zephyr, a model conceived by:

• Edsel Ford (vision and design refinement)
• John Tjaarda (aerodynamic body concepts)
• Eugene T. “Bob” Gregorie (styling execution at Ford’s design studio)

The aim was a car that combined:

• modern streamlining,
• high manufacturing quality,
• and the prestige of a luxury V12,
  at a price accessible to upper-middle-class buyers.

Design and Styling

The Lincoln Zephyr is considered one of the first truly streamlined American production cars.

Aerodynamic Form

Influenced by Tjaarda’s wind-tunnel work, the body featured:

• A smooth, teardrop-inspired silhouette
• Integrated, flowing fenders
• A sharply raked windscreen
• A tapered rear section
• A graceful, Art Deco grille

These elements gave the Zephyr a modern, almost futuristic presence compared with the boxier cars of the early 1930s.

Construction

The car used unitised body-and-frame construction (semi-monocoque), an advanced approach for American cars at the time. This improved rigidity and reduced weight.

Engine and Performance

A hallmark of the Zephyr was its compact, lightweight V12 engine:

The Lincoln-Zephyr V12

• Displacement: 4.4 litres (initially), later enlarged
• Output: approximately 110–120 bhp
• Smooth and quiet running
• Positioned for balanced weight distribution

Although modest in power compared to later post-war V8s, the V12 gave the Zephyr a refined, effortless character on long journeys.

Ride and Handling

The Zephyr used:

• Hydraulic brakes
• A strong but supple suspension
• A relatively low centre of gravity
  These provided a stable and comfortable ride at a time when many American cars felt heavy and unwieldy.

Variants and Development

The Lincoln Zephyr range included:

• 4-door sedan
• 2-door sedan (coupe-sedan)
• Convertible coupe
• Convertible sedan
• Limousine configurations

In 1940, the Zephyr line gave rise to the Lincoln Continental, considered one of the most beautiful American cars ever built — originally a bespoke design for Edsel Ford.

Production ceased in 1942 due to wartime manufacturing priorities.

Cultural and Historical Importance

The Lincoln Zephyr is remembered as:

• A milestone in American aerodynamics
• A car that redefined Lincoln’s identity
• A bridge between Art Deco elegance and post-war luxury styling
• A precursor to the celebrated Continental range

Its modern, flowing shape influenced future American automotive design, helping move the industry away from upright, coach-built forms toward integrated, streamlined bodies.

Legacy

Today, the Zephyr is cherished by collectors for its:

• sculptural beauty,
• advanced engineering,
• smooth V12 performance,
• and its symbolic role in Ford Motor Company’s design renaissance.

Well-preserved examples — particularly convertibles and early coupés — are highly sought after and regularly featured in concours events.

Conclusion

The Lincoln Zephyr stands as a landmark of American automotive design: stylish, technically innovative, and perfectly attuned to the modern spirit of the late 1930s. It represents a turning point for Lincoln and an era when form, engineering, and elegance blended into a truly progressive motor car.

The Seven Crystal Balls: A Brief Overview

The Seven Crystal Balls (Les Sept Boules de Cristal, 1948) is one of the most atmospheric and unsettling books in The Adventures of Tintin. A fusion of mystery, archaeology, psychological tension, and supernatural dread, it marks the beginning of the celebrated two-part story that concludes in Prisoners of the Sun.

It is also a turning point in Hergé’s career: a work of exceptional artistic refinement, deeper characterisation, and narrative sophistication.

Overview

The story revolves around a disturbing series of attacks on an archaeological expedition returning from South America. Members of the expedition are found in a state of coma, each having fallen victim to a mysterious explosion of light caused by a crystal ball. Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Professor Calculus are drawn into the investigation when their friend, Professor Hercules Bergamotte, becomes a target.

The album builds suspense gradually, balancing rational deduction with an atmosphere of the uncanny. It is one of Tintin’s most carefully paced and elegantly constructed mysteries.

Plot Summary

The Mystery Begins

Tintin and Haddock return to Marlinspike Hall, where they reunite with Bianca Castafiore, Nestor, and Calculus. News emerges of the strange afflictions plaguing the Sanders-Hardiman Expedition, a group of archaeologists who have recently returned from excavating the tomb of the Inca ruler Rasca Capa.

One by one, the explorers have collapsed into an unbreakable sleep, each attack preceded by a sudden flash of blinding light.

The Crystal Balls

Tintin and Haddock visit Bergamotte, the last unaffected member of the team. He displays the expedition’s prize: the mummy of Rasca Capa. That night, during a violent electrical storm, Bergamotte too is struck down by the same phenomenon — and the mummy vanishes.

The investigators realise they are dealing with a methodical, purposeful series of attacks. The symbolism of the crystal balls, an echo of “divine punishment” in Inca lore, deepens the sense of foreboding.

Kidnapping of Professor Calculus

When Calculus, moved by humanitarian concern, approaches the mystery too closely, he is kidnapped. His disappearance propels Tintin and Haddock into a frantic search, leading them to the port of Saint-Nazaire and eventually onto a ship bound for South America.

This cliffhanger ending sets the stage for Prisoners of the Sun.

Atmosphere and Tone

The Seven Crystal Balls is one of the most atmospheric entries in the Tintin series.
It evokes:

• domestic comfort disrupted by dread,
• the tension between modern science and ancient belief,
• the psychological strain of the unknown,
• and a pervasive sense of being watched by an unseen force.

The pacing is masterful, with quiet moments of ordinary life at Marlinspike suddenly pierced by eerie events. The thunderstorm scene, in particular, is regarded as one of Hergé’s finest sequences — a perfect fusion of drama, timing, and visual clarity.

Themes

1. Respect for Ancient Cultures

The narrative frames the attacks not as “superstition” but as the consequence of scientific arrogance. The explorers have violated a sacred tomb without understanding its significance. Hergé, increasingly committed to cultural respect in this period, handles Inca civilisation with a seriousness absent from early Tintin adventures.

2. Scientific Responsibility

The story warns of the dangers of treating ancient remains as trophies rather than heritage. This theme anticipates the mature stance of The Blue Lotus and later works, where anthropology is approached with humility rather than exoticism.

3. Mystery vs Rationality

Tintin consistently seeks rational explanations, yet the plot never undermines the eerie, almost supernatural tension. Hergé allows ambiguity to enrich the narrative.

4. Friendship and Loyalty

Tintin and Haddock’s bond with Calculus deepens here. Haddock in particular emerges as a more rounded character — loyal, worried, and deeply human beneath his bluster.

Artistic Achievement

The Seven Crystal Balls showcases Hergé at the height of his artistic power:

• Exquisite line work,
• Clean yet expressive panel composition,
• Realistic settings based on careful reference work,
• Dramatic lighting effects, especially during storms and night scenes.

Hergé’s line becomes more elegant and precise in this period, reflecting the influence of documentary reference and an increasingly cinematic sense of rhythm.

Marlinspike Hall is drawn with warmth and solidity; the hospital scenes are clinical and restrained; the storm-lit rooms during Bergamotte’s attack are claustrophobic and brilliant.

Historical Background

The story began in 1943, during the German occupation of Belgium, but was interrupted by post-war difficulties. Hergé’s own psychological exhaustion — he suffered vivid nightmares during this period — influenced the sombre mood of the work.

The crystal ball motif may have been inspired by accounts of South American shamanic rituals, filtered through early anthropological literature available in Brussels libraries.

Significance and Legacy

This album is widely regarded as a masterpiece of plot construction and atmosphere. It:

• inaugurates Tintin’s most emotionally charged two-part story,
• elevates the stakes from adventure to moral investigation,
• refines Hergé’s artistic approach to near perfection,
• and introduces the Inca storyline that produces some of the most iconic imagery in the Tintin canon.

The sinister crystal balls, the lightning-filled night at Marlinspike, and the quiet dread of the afflicted archaeologists remain among the most indelible scenes in Tintin’s history.

Conclusion

The Seven Crystal Balls is a cornerstone of the Tintin series: haunting, elegant, meticulously crafted, and rich in atmosphere. It blends mystery with profound moral undercurrents, paving the way for the breathtaking continuation in Prisoners of the Sun.

It stands as a testament to Hergé’s artistic discipline, narrative intelligence, and emotional range — a Tintin adventure in which the ordinary and the uncanny meet with remarkable power.

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.
• Expert Curation: Our selection process focuses on significance, condition, and rarity, resulting in a collection that is both diverse and distinguished.
• Customer Satisfaction: We aim to provide an exceptional customer experience, from detailed descriptions to secure and prompt delivery of your purchase.
• Returns Policy: We offer an unconditional guarantee on every item. If you wish to return an item, it may be sent back to us within fourteen days of receipt. Please notify us in advance if you wish to do so. The item must be returned in the same condition as it was sent for a full refund.

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.