Tintin By Plane – 38 – The American Seaplane From The Eruption of Karamako – L’Hydravion Américain De L’Éruption Du Karamako – En Avion Tintin

Author: Hergé & Editions Moulinsart
Price: £65.00
Publisher: Editions Moulinsart
Publication date: 2014
Format: Original pictorial boards with plane on plinth
Condition: In near fine condition
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout

Description:

Original pictorial boards. Text in French. Includes the accompanying model. One from the collection of 50 books and models. Very slight wear. In very near fine, clean condition overall.

Jo, Zette & Jocko: A Brief Account

Jo, Zette and Jocko are characters created by Hergé (Georges Remi), best known as the creator of Tintin. The trio consists of:

• Jo Legrand – a resourceful and brave boy
• Zette Legrand – his intelligent and courageous sister
• Jocko – a cheeky pet chimpanzee who provides humour and occasional chaos

The series was conceived in the mid-1930s as a more “moral” and family-centred counterpart to Tintin, under request from the French magazine Cœurs Vaillants. Unlike Tintin, who is an independent young reporter, Jo and Zette have parents and live in a conventional family home. This created a very different narrative framework.

Origins and Context

Hergé had remarkable creative freedom with Tintin, but this series came with editorial conditions:

• The children must not be orphans
• They must behave “properly”
• There should be no excessive danger or “bad influence”
• Realistic family structure and educational tone preferred

Hergé found these constraints somewhat limiting, and it shows — the plots at times feel more engineered to teach virtue than Tintin’s free-roaming spirit. Nevertheless, he infused the adventures with technical imagination, international intrigue, and humour.

Major Adventures

The principal story arcs include:

1. The Secret Ray (1936–1937)

A two-part adventure:

• The “S” Adventures
• The “É” Adventures

A visionary scientist invents a revolutionary machine; naturally, spies and industrial rivals pursue the secret. It features futuristic technology and early science-fiction leanings.

2. The Stratonef H-22 (1937–1939)

Also split in two:

• The Great Problem
• Destination New York

Centred around the Stratonef H-22, a futuristic long-range aircraft/sub-stratospheric craft. It’s notable for its aviation and engineering details — Hergé’s fascination with technology is evident.

The story deals with sabotage, kidnapping, industrial rivalry, and a journey to America under threat.

3. The Valley of the Cobras (1952–1953)

A later adventure, full of exotic landscapes, fakirs, secret sects, and treasure — with a tone closer to classic adventure strips than constrained moral instruction. It has echoes of Orientalist fantasy typical of the era.

Unfinished Story

Hergé began The Thermozéro, originally planned for Tintin, and also sketched brief Jo & Zette concepts that never developed into full albums.

Themes

• Family values and parental authority
• Duty, loyalty, courage
• Technological optimism and engineering marvels
• Spycraft and industrial espionage
• Exotic travel within a 1930s worldview

Jocko’s antics provide comic relief throughout, softening the tensions.

Artistic Style and Place in Hergé’s Oeuvre

• Illustrations clearly reflect Belgian ligne claire style
• Panels often echo Tintin’s clarity, precision, and humour
• Aircraft, laboratories, and machines meticulously designed
• Characters sometimes less independent — a result of editorial constraints

For historians or collectors, the series provides insight into Hergé’s development, especially between Tintin’s early volumes and his later, more refined narrative craft.

Reception and Legacy

The series remains relatively niche but appreciated by:

• Hergé completists
• Ligne-claire enthusiasts
• Admirers of pre-war European adventure comics
• Collectors of illustrated technical-fantasy works

While never achieving Tintin’s cultural dominance, Jo, Zette and Jocko represent an important sideline in Hergé’s creative evolution, showing how he engaged with external expectations while still pushing imagination and form.

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.