Tintin Forums

I have had this Tintin Umbrella for about 10 years, I was intending to use it then thought it was too good to be used so looking for a value for selling it. It has only come out of its cover tonight to photograph, even when I bought it I never took it out of the plastic cover it came in. I have tried searching for another one but have been unable to find any others, have tried at different times over the last few years and always been unsuccessful.

The umbrella has never been put up, the handle is wicker(?) and still has the protective plastic wrap on it. The splines are all finished at the ends in wood and the tip of the umbrella is wood with a plastic tip.

So if anybody could give me an approx value and advise where best to sell this I would be most appreciative. I have attached this link to my photos of it.
Thanks!

I’m not certain how to answer this, to be honest.
I did do a quick Google, and found someone trying to sell a 1997 umbrella with large pictures of Snowy and Ottokar’s sceptre for 150 CHF (Swiss Francs), so about £85. However, I have nothing to gauge that against to say if that is the bargain of the century or ten times what it should be worth… My gut says that this figure is possibly a little optomistic.
The problem with items like this is that they are real niche market pieces - you have to find that elusive creature, the Tintin-themed umbrella collector/ completist, who doesn’t have this one in their collection already. Otherwise, I’m afraid that you’re not going to get much more than anyone would pay for an umbrella, Tintin-themed or not.
Personally I wouldn’t/ couldn’t pay £85 for something that I wasn’t going to use, and I certainly wouldn’t pay £85 for a brolly that I was going to use, and might therefore lose, or have the wind turn it inside out…
I reckon you should do regular searches of the net over a period of a few months (a tip might also to do what I did and look for “parapluie” rather than umbrella, as the chances are they are more likely to be found on the continent), and see what comes up. You’ll also get an idea of if such items sell, and where they are being sold.

Thanks very much for the advice, have had it for a few years and thought because I might just sell it because it isn't being used.

Hi Jaglover

I'm not a Tin Tin collector but happened upon your query by the magic of Google. I lost my girlfriend's TinTin umbrella on Saturday in London, someone nicked it from an internet cafe, and was searching around for another....when I found your message.

How much do you want for it and where are you? Obviously I'm not looking for a TinTin collectible - just an umbrella!

cheers

Derekg

artvint@aol.com