Original Tintin illustration turns up after house furniture move

A Tintin fan in Brussels has uncovered an original plate from King Ottokar’s Sceptre after moving his furniture around at home, reports Le Figaro. The Tintin comic strip collector had forgotten of the work’s existence, which was drawn personally by Tintin’s creator Hergé in a mix of Indian ink and watercolours. According the international auction house Artcurial, the work of art would sell for €200,000 to €300,000 on today’s market.

Artcurial expert Eric Leroy said the work was a “historic piece” since a number of King Ottokar’s Sceptre illustrations had gone missing after the Second World War. Those which were found are now on show at the Hergé museum in Louvain-la-Neuve. The recovered plate will be displayed on November 22 at Artcurial’s showrooms in Paris.