Tintin Forums

The fifth volume of the superb "Chronologie d'une Oeuvre" series will be released on November 2nd.

I'm really looking forward to this one - towards the end of volume four (1942-3) the pages suddenly bloom into full colour and the effect is stunning. For those of us not lucky enough to be able to go and read through the archvies of the Hergé foundation, this is the next best thing.

Ed

I've not been able to justify the cost of this, as yet. Does anyone have any advice on how to collect the series economically? Any decent discounts?

Hmm... I'm afraid I don't know of an easy way around the hefty price tag. But they come out on average once a year, so they're well worth saving up for and buying as a special treat for yourself. It's easier for me - so far they've tended to be released around my birthday.

Ed

I'm interested in these books, but are they of any worth to someone like me who doesn't know French?

Tintinrulz wrote: I'm interested in these books, but are they of any worth to someone like me who doesn't know French?

They certainly are of worth if you're a big fan of Hergé's work - they're the supreme works! I've found reading foreign language comic books is a very useful way of helping to learn a language as you have some pictures to help as a reference to what is being said - particulaly if you know the English version of the story well, as with Tintin.

I saw some of these books quite cheap in Brussels last week, but with what luggage I already had I didn't what to risk getting a hernia carrying them back!

I look forward to seeing this edition too, with all the glorious colour

I have been looking on line, and am now a little worried that the earlier volumes are now out of print - were they still available in Brussels, or has anyone else seen them about.

It would be a great pity if the series was going out of print before we have even reached volume 5…!

I saw them all available at www.amazon.fr yesterday.

Would be nice to get but as a student they are far too expensive for me. Anyone know why they are so costly?

I also had a quick look at amazon.fr and they're all still available at around 99 euros (plus 6 euros postage to UK) each and I've also seen second hand copies shift occasionally on good ol' ebay for a reasonable price. With those kind of specialist books I suppose there could be a limited print run - I dread to think how much they would cost if they became "rare".

I also noticed that the new edition (vol 5) is listed at a whopping 152 euros (reduced from 160). It probably pays to hang on until it's been out for a while in order to make a saving.

It's important to make a distinction between the normal editions and the much more expensive "de luxe" versions, which contain a limited edition print (and presumably much more to justify their price).

Ed

I've been getting one a year at Christmas as long as they've been coming out - they're absolutely fascinating books, really well put together and researched.

With regard to the price tag, for the kind of book they are (size, quality of printing etc.) they're not overly expensive. At least, in comparison to other similar books, such as one on Picasso and one on Art Deco for £50 and £39.99 respectively.

I've just found out that this volume covers the period 1943-1949, beginning with "The Seven Crystal Balls" and ending with "Land of Black Gold". The cover features Tintin and Zorrino digging a frozen Haddock from the snow from "Prisoners of the Sun". They're digging up the Captain, that is ... not a fish.