Tintin By Plane – 44 – The Border Fighter Plane Of King Ottokar’s Sceptre – L’Avion De Chasse Bordure Du Sceptre D’Ottokar – En Avion Tintin

Author: Hergé & Editions Moulinsart
Price: £65.00
Publisher: Editions Moulinsart
Publication date: 2015
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 and figurine. One from the collection of 50 books and models. Very slight wear. In very near fine, clean condition overall.

Tintin in King Ottokar’s Sceptre: A Brief Account

King Ottokar’s Sceptre is the eighth volume in The Adventures of Tintin, the celebrated comic book series created by Belgian artist Hergé (Georges Remi). First published serially between August 1938 and August 1939 in the Belgian newspaper Le Petit Vingtième, it was later released as a complete book in 1939. The story marks a significant evolution in Hergé’s work, both artistically and politically, as it reflects the growing tensions in pre-war Europe while refining the ligne claire style for which Tintin would become renowned.

Synopsis

The adventure begins when Tintin, the young reporter and hero of the series, becomes entangled in a plot involving the fictional Balkan kingdom of Syldavia. After finding a lost briefcase belonging to a professor named Alembick, a sigillographer (expert in seals), Tintin uncovers a conspiracy to overthrow Syldavia’s monarchy. The plot centres on the theft of King Muskar XII’s sceptre, a national symbol of legitimacy. According to Syldavian tradition, if the King fails to present the sceptre on St Vladimir’s Day, he must abdicate the throne.

Tintin travels to Syldavia to warn the authorities, only to find himself targeted by a fascist organisation supported by neighbouring Borduria — a thinly veiled allegory for Nazi Germany. After a series of close escapes, Tintin recovers the sceptre in time, thereby preventing a coup and preserving the independence of Syldavia.

Themes and Symbolism

King Ottokar’s Sceptre is notable for its clear political undertones. Written at a time when Adolf Hitler was expanding his control across Europe, Hergé used the story to comment on the fragility of small nations in the face of totalitarian aggression. Borduria, the expansionist power threatening Syldavia, is an unmistakable stand-in for Nazi Germany, while the Syldavian resistance to foreign domination reflects Belgium’s anxieties about its own security.

Hergé’s creation of Syldavia is one of his most elaborate world-building achievements. The country is portrayed as a mountainous, medieval-looking monarchy with its own flag, coat of arms, language, and royal history. Its fictional tongue, Syldavian, was based on a blend of Central European languages, notably Serbo-Croatian, which Hergé studied in order to create linguistic authenticity. This attention to detail reinforced the realism of Tintin’s world and established Syldavia as a recurring setting in later stories, notably Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon.

Artistic and Technical Innovations

The book marked a turning point in Hergé’s artistic development. The architectural precision, carefully researched uniforms, and realistic vehicles — including the titular “bordure” scenes depicting fighter planes and military displays — demonstrated Hergé’s growing dedication to documentation. He began to rely on reference photographs and technical drawings to achieve accuracy, setting a standard for the realism that would define the later Tintin albums.

The story also saw the increasing involvement of Hergé’s studio collaborators, particularly Edgar Pierre Jacobs, who later created Blake and Mortimer. Jacobs helped refine some of the Syldavian settings and heraldic elements, contributing to the visual richness of the finished work.

Reception and Legacy

Upon publication, King Ottokar’s Sceptre was widely praised for its gripping narrative and political relevance. Post-war critics have interpreted the book as both an adventure tale and a subtle act of resistance, given that it warned against fascism before the German occupation of Belgium.

In the decades since, it has been recognised as one of the finest Tintin adventures. The book combines political intrigue, humour, and high-stakes action with moral clarity, presenting Tintin as the embodiment of courage and integrity in the face of tyranny. The Syldavian and Bordurian setting would later serve as a mirror for Cold War Europe, ensuring the story’s enduring relevance.

Cultural Influence

King Ottokar’s Sceptre has left a lasting mark on European popular culture. Its fictional monarch, King Muskar XII, became a symbol of dignified resistance, while Syldavia’s iconography — particularly the black pelican emblem — remains one of the most recognisable motifs in the Tintin universe. The narrative also influenced mid-twentieth-century adventure literature, combining the excitement of espionage fiction with the political sophistication of contemporary European history.

Conclusion

King Ottokar’s Sceptre stands as a pivotal work in Hergé’s canon, blending adventure, satire, and political commentary with exceptional visual craftsmanship. It captures a moment in European history when democracy and monarchy alike were under threat from rising authoritarianism. Through Tintin’s unwavering determination and moral courage, Hergé offered a hopeful vision of integrity and independence prevailing against aggression — a message that continues to resonate in both historical and artistic contexts.

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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.