The legendary cartoonist Hergé's most famous creation, Tintin, is no stranger to the auction block.

And now collectors will have a chance to own a museum quality artefact of Belgium's most famous boy reporter at Artcurial on October 9.

Starring among the lots in the Paris auction house's special Comic Strips "L'univers du créateur de Tintin" (The universe of the creator of Tintin) auction is this early adventure, Cigars of the Pharaoh.

Cigars of the Pharaoh, starring Tintin, from 1942

The copy dates to 1942, and only 4,000 copies were ever produced. Artcurial describes the book as a "museum piece" in its write-up.

Also according the lot notes, Cigars of the Pharaoh is in black and white and in immaculate condition "without blemishes".

Boasting sublime stitching on its back and a still-white interior without any flaws, the historic book will go under the hammer estimated at €25,000-30,000.

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