Sceptre Ottokar, Signed (1 results)

First and later printings, each volume inscribed by the author to his colourist Guy Dessicy. One of the original three employees of Studios Hergé, Dessicy worked on the Tintin books at the creator's home from 1947 to 1953 and belonged to Hergé's close circle of companions known as the "Capelle-aux-Champs." The earliest inscription reads, in translation, "To Guy, With the hope of a long and fruitful collaboration. Very warmly, Hergé". The final volume is inscribed to Dessicy's family and notes, in part, "This book, whose beautiful colours are the work of their father Guy". A full list of inscriptions is available on request. Dessicy (1924-2016) first met Hergé as a child in 1936, and they later became confidantes and collaborators. Hergé personally trained Dessicy as his colourist, showing him the technique of using six layers for the overall picture and a single layer for the distant background of the setting. Dessicy also modelled for character poses and discussed story ideas with Hergé. Germaine recalled of the little studio on avenue Delleur, "Without exaggerating, it was magnificent. The staff members were more friends than anything else. People worked while laughing, in a sort of camaraderie" (Peeters, p. 226). After leaving the studio, Dessicy founded the comic-inspired advertising agency Publiart with the Tintin publisher Raymond Leblanc. Dessicy later saved the Brussels art-nouveau Cauchie House from demolition and discussed transforming it into a Tintin museum with Hergé towards the end of the creator's life. Although this plan went unrealized, Dessicy did play a key part in founding the Belgian Comic Strip Centre in 1989. The set includes nine of the 23 Tintin albums published during Hergés lifetime. Five of the works are first printings, being from the first edition, or from the first colour-illustrated edition where previously published in black and white. These copies conform to the first printing points outlined in the Trésors de la bande dessinée (BDM). The remaining four volumes are later printings, all copyrighted to 1947, the year Dessicy joined Studios Hergé; they are Le Secret de La Licorne, Le Crabe aux pinces d'or, L'Étoile mystérieuse, and L'Île Noire. Benoît Peeters, Hergé: Son of Tintin, 2012. 9 works, quarto. Colour illustrations throughout in comic-strip format. Original paper spines in red and yellow, a few rebacked or repaired, pictorial board covers, illustrated endpapers. No dust jackets issued. Housed in a red cloth flat-back box by the Chelsea Bindery. Le Sceptre with annotation to pp. 2-3; Le Crabe with loss to lower corner of front cover and free endpaper; Le Secret front inner hinge cracked but holding. Spines a little chipped and worn, covers rubbed, extremities worn, occasional mark to covers and contents, sporadic tears and paper repairs without loss, still a very good set.