The Red Bolide – Model Car – 29901 – Le Bolide Rouge – 1/24 Scale – Second Edition – 2025

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
Postage: 48 hour tracked service in the UK

Description:

The second edition of this model, dated 2025 in the booklet. The original edition, dated 2019, sold out very quickly. Size: 20.5cm x 7cm x 7cm. From ‘The Cigars Of The Pharaoh’. 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: 299012

The Cigars Of The Pharaoh: A Brief Overview

The Cigars of the Pharaoh (Les Cigares du Pharaon), first serialised in 1932–1934, is one of the great early adventures of Tintin and the story in which Hergé’s world truly expands. It marks the moment when Tintin’s universe shifts from light-hearted escapades to mystery, global conspiracy, and political intrigue — laying the foundations for the tone and sophistication of the later albums.

It is also the book that introduces key recurring characters and establishes narrative patterns that would shape The Adventures of Tintin for the next half-century.

Overview

This adventure takes Tintin from a luxury cruise ship in the Mediterranean to Egypt, Arabia, and India. Along the way, he uncovers a secret narcotics network, encounters a series of sinister symbols, and is repeatedly targeted by a shadowy international organisation.

The Cigars of the Pharaoh stands out as:

• a mystery-driven thriller,
• a satire of archaeology and colonial adventure literature,
• a study in exotic landscapes,
• and a dramatic maturation of Hergé’s storytelling craft.

Plot Summary

The Journey Begins

Tintin, travelling aboard the ocean liner SS Epomeo, meets Professor Sophocles Sarcophagus, an eccentric Egyptologist who invites him to help locate the lost tomb of Kih-Oskh, a mythical pharaoh.

Tintin accepts, and the two set off into the Egyptian desert.

The Tomb of Kih-Oskh

Inside the tomb, Tintin discovers a chilling sight:

• rows of mummies, each lying in a sarcophagus marked with the Kih-Oskh symbol — a sinister circle-with-flame motif.
• Among the “mummies” are modern-day victims, preserved to suggest a macabre warning.

From this point, Tintin is pursued by unknown agents who are clearly determined to silence him.

Narcotics, Hypnosis, and Conspiracy

Tintin is drugged, kidnapped, framed, and repeatedly attacked. The story expands across:

• Egypt
• the Arabian Peninsula, where he encounters Bedouin tribes and smugglers
• India, where the conspiracy reaches its climax

The plot revolves around a vast drug-trafficking network disguised behind the trade of cigars decorated with the Kih-Oskh symbol.

Key Introductions

This album is especially notable for debuting several major characters in Tintin’s universe:

Thomson and Thompson (Dupond and Dupont)

The hilariously incompetent detectives make their first full appearance. Their verbal tics (“To be precise…”) and visual likeness create immediate comedic charm.

Allan Thompson

Later notorious as Rastapopoulos’s henchman, Allan begins here as a smuggler and ship’s mate.

Rastapopoulos

Although not formally revealed as the mastermind until The Blue Lotus, he appears here in early form — affable yet suspicious, watching Tintin with interest.

These introductions are crucial for the evolution of Tintin’s world; Hergé is moving towards a connected universe of recurring figures.

Tone and Atmosphere

Unlike the straightforward heroics of the earliest books, The Cigars of the Pharaoh has:

• genuine suspense,
• dark humour,
• psychological tension,
• dreamlike sequences,
• and a sense of Tintin being hunted by unseen forces.

It is the first Tintin story built on enigmas and symbols, especially the recurring Kih-Oskh mark, which functions like a proto–secret society emblem.

The mood is exotic and faintly surreal, with desert mirages, jungle cults, and occult motifs offset by moments of slapstick comedy.

Cultural and Artistic Qualities

Research and Style

Though still early in his career, Hergé begins to embrace:

• more realistic architecture,
• greater attention to costume,
• detailed landscapes of Cairo, Red Sea ports, and Indian cities.

He also experiments with layouts and pacing that would become central to the ligne claire aesthetic.

Satire

Hergé gently mocks:

• amateur archaeologists
• colonial adventurers
• mystical cults
• the sensationalism of pulp fiction

Yet he also constructs an adventure far more compelling than the stories he parodies.

Themes

1. Hidden Power and Conspiracy

The story introduces the idea — later central in Tintin — of shadowy global networks manipulating events behind the scenes.

2. Cultural Encounter

Hergé’s portrayal of Egypt, Arabia, and India becomes more respectful than in earlier books, marking the beginning of his lifelong journey toward cultural research and accuracy (taken to full maturity in The Blue Lotus).

3. Justice and Moral Integrity

Tintin’s refusal to abandon the truth or accept deception defines him more fully as a moral hero.

Significance and Legacy

The Cigars of the Pharaoh is the hinge between early Tintin (simple, episodic, breathless) and mature Tintin (researched, textured, ethically grounded).

Its importance lies in:

• introducing major ongoing characters,
• defining Tintin as a danger to global crime networks,
• establishing motifs (drugs, smuggling, secret symbols) that recur later,
• pairing comedy and mystery with remarkable balance.

The story also directly sets up its sequel, The Blue Lotus, one of Hergé’s greatest achievements.

Conclusion

The Cigars of the Pharaoh is a landmark Tintin adventure: atmospheric, tightly plotted, richly imaginative, and historically important. It marks the moment when Tintin’s world becomes deeper, darker, and more interconnected, setting the stage for the masterpiece that follows.

It is the book in which Hergé finds his compass — pointing toward mystery, global intrigue, and the elegant clarity that would make Tintin a timeless icon.

The 1932 Alfa Romeo P3: A Brief History

The 1932 Alfa Romeo P3 — also known as the Tipo B — is one of the most important and beautifully engineered Grand Prix cars of the pre-war era. Designed by the legendary Vittorio Jano, it represents the pinnacle of early 1930s racing technology and is often regarded as the first true single-seater Grand Prix car. Its blend of mechanical ingenuity, elegant simplicity, and relentless speed made it a dominant force on Europe’s racing circuits and a cornerstone of Alfa Romeo’s sporting heritage.

Origins and Design Philosophy

By the early 1930s, Grand Prix racing was evolving rapidly. Manufacturers sought lighter, more powerful, more stable machines capable of long-distance competition. Alfa Romeo — already respected thanks to successes with the P2 — needed a breakthrough design to maintain supremacy.

Vittorio Jano responded with the P3, a car entirely dedicated to speed, innovation, and balance.

Engineering and Technical Features

The P3’s engineering was revolutionary for the time, and many of its ideas influenced race car design for decades.

Monoposto Layout

The P3 is widely credited as the first major single-seat Grand Prix car, giving drivers:

• better weight distribution,
• improved visibility,
• and a more direct, centred driving position.

This was radically different from the two-seat layout common in the 1920s.

Supercharged Straight-Eight Engine

The P3 used Alfa’s superb 2.6-litre supercharged inline-eight, later enlarged to 2.9 and 3.2 litres. Key characteristics:

• Dual superchargers (roots-type)
• Power output initially around 215–255 bhp, rising higher in later versions
• A top speed exceeding 140 mph (225 km/h) — sensational at the time

The engine was both powerful and remarkably smooth, with a characteristic high-compression growl.

Twin-Driveshaft Layout

One of the P3’s hallmark innovations was its split driveshaft system:

• Instead of a single central prop shaft, Jano used two angled shafts running around either side of the cockpit.
• This allowed a lower seating position and lower centre of gravity, improving stability and handling.

The system was ingenious and set the P3 apart from its rivals.

Lightweight Construction

The chassis used a simple but highly stiff ladder frame, with:

• Lightweight bodywork made from hand-beaten aluminium
• Approximately 700 kg dry weight
• Excellent power-to-weight ratio

Suspension was traditional for the period — solid axles and semi-elliptical springs — but refined to yield surprisingly agile handling.

Racing Dominance

The 1932 Alfa Romeo P3 became one of the most successful Grand Prix cars of all time.

1932 Season: Immediate Success

Driven by stars such as:

• Tazio Nuvolari
• Rudolf Caracciola
• Giovanni Battista Guidotti

…the P3 dominated its first season. Nuvolari in particular extracted magic from the car, his fierce, fluid driving style perfectly matched to its balance and responsiveness.

The P3 won:

• Italian Grand Prix
• German Grand Prix
• French Grand Prix
• and many major European races

Its superiority was clear and intimidating.

Later Seasons (1933–1935)

Alfa Romeo, struggling financially, temporarily withdrew from racing — but the P3 continued to win under the stewardship of Scuderia Ferrari, then Alfa’s semi-official racing team.

The P3 famously returned in 1935 at the German Grand Prix, where Nuvolari defeated the all-conquering Mercedes and Auto Union cars on their home soil — one of the greatest motor-racing victories in history.

Aesthetic and Emotional Appeal

The P3 is a perfect blend of:

• narrow, cigar-shaped bodywork,
• exposed wheels,
• sculptural bonnet vents,
• and a long, tapered tail.

It embodies the purity of early racing design — beautiful not through ornament, but through function. Its red livery, typical of Italian racing cars, became iconic, and its stance on track — low, purposeful, aggressive — symbolised Alfa Romeo’s racing soul.

Legacy

The 1932 Alfa Romeo P3 left an immense legacy:

• It set new standards for weight distribution and handling.
• It pioneered the single-seater Grand Prix concept.
• It established Alfa Romeo as a dominant pre-war racing force.
• It cemented Tazio Nuvolari’s legend through unforgettable victories.

Today, surviving P3s are among the most prized racing cars in private collections and vintage events.

Conclusion

The 1932 Alfa Romeo P3 is a masterpiece of early twentieth-century engineering — fast, elegant, innovative, and historically significant. It stands not only as a dominant Grand Prix machine, but as a symbol of the creativity and ambition that defined the golden age of motor racing.

It remains one of the most admired and respected cars ever to grace a circuit: the purest expression of speed, skill, and mechanical genius.

Why Buy from Us?

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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.

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.

Hornseys’ exhibit regularly at book and map fairs in London and throughout the UK and as long-established specialists in fine books, maps, prints and ephemera, Hornseys maintains full professional membership of the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association (PBFA). The PBFA is one of the most respected trade bodies in the rare and antiquarian book world, with strict standards of expertise, authenticity and ethical trading. Our verified member listing can be viewed here: Hornseys – PBFA Member Profile.