The Red Jeep – 6 – La Jeep Rouge

Author: Hergé & Editions Moulinsart
Price: £125.00
Publisher: Editions Moulinsart
Publication date: 2019
Format: Original pictorial wrappers with car on plinth
Condition: In excellent condition. Model car and book are both unopened
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout

Description:

Original pictorial wrappers. Text in French. Includes the accompanying car. One from the collection of 71 books and models. In excellent condition. Model car and book are both unopened.

Tintin And The Red Jeep: A Brief Account

Introduction

The red Jeep in The Land of Black Gold (originally serialised 1939–40, revised 1950) is one of the most instantly recognisable vehicles in the Tintin canon. Appearing during Tintin’s journey across the Middle Eastern desert, it plays a practical and symbolic role, bridging the transition from European turmoil into the volatile oil-rich regions that define the album’s political and narrative landscape. Hergé’s inclusion of the Jeep underscores the modernisation and militarisation associated with petroleum geopolitics in the mid-twentieth century.

Context and Setting

The Land of Black Gold is a story steeped in international tension. Tintin confronts sabotage of global oil supplies, rising militarism and the friction between rival powers seeking to control strategic commodities. The red Jeep appears at precisely the point where the narrative shifts from espionage-tinged European settings to desert landscapes shaped by political intrigue, military activity and commercial ambition.

Jeep-type vehicles were becoming emblematic of rugged mobility during and after the Second World War. By the time Hergé completed the revised edition, the Jeep was firmly established as an icon of Western engineering and military reach. Its presence in the book therefore adds authenticity and immediacy.

Role in the Narrative

Tintin acquires the red Jeep during his efforts to track down the source of the fuel crisis. The vehicle enables him to cross the desert, pursue leads and confront agents of the villainous Dr Müller. It becomes an essential tool for mobility in a hostile environment, allowing Tintin to evade capture, investigate remote locations and outmanoeuvre adversaries.

Notably, the Jeep appears in sequences where speed, agility and resilience are vital. It serves as a visual and functional extension of Tintin’s determination and resourcefulness: reliable, compact and capable of handling rough terrain.

Technical and Aesthetic Qualities

Although stylised, Hergé’s rendering of the Jeep reflects the key characteristics of contemporary models:

• Angular bodywork
• Open cabin
• Mounted spare wheel
• Sturdy tyres suited to sand and rock
• Upright windscreen and simple military-inspired lines

The red colour — unusual in real-world military contexts — is a deliberate artistic choice. It heightens visual clarity against pale desert backdrops, aids narrative readability and imbues the scenes with kinetic energy. The colour palette also contributes to the strong graphic identity of the album’s Middle Eastern chapters.

Thematic Resonance

Mobility and Modernity

The Jeep represents modern mechanical power in a region undergoing rapid transformation under the influence of oil wealth and geopolitical interest.

Adventure Tradition

Tintin’s relationship with vehicles often mirrors classic adventure fiction, where robust transport machinery symbolises progress and exploration. As with the Jeep in Destination Moon, this vehicle signifies efficiency, resilience and preparedness.

Conflict and Power

The Jeep hints at military capability, reflecting the tense political environment of the story. It provides a subtle reminder that control of natural resources is inseparable from force and infrastructure.

Artistic Importance

Hergé’s ligne claire style elevates machinery to a level of aesthetic prominence. The red Jeep is not background decoration; it is illustrated with care, perspective and compositional significance. It contributes to the sense of realism that characterises Hergé’s mature work, anchoring the fantastical elements of espionage and sabotage within a credible world.

Enduring Appeal

Among Tintin enthusiasts and vehicle historians, the red Jeep is fondly remembered as:

• A symbol of Tintin’s desert adventure phase
• A visually striking example of Hergé’s mechanical draughtsmanship
• A precursor to the later, more technical automotive and aerospace depictions in the Moon books

It stands as a compact emblem of purposeful design and narrative clarity — practical, distinctive and quietly heroic.

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.
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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.