Crossmint, a blockchain infrastructure start-up, has partnered with Tintinimaginatio to launch the first-ever NFT collection of the beloved Tintin comic series. Tintinimaginatio was established to safeguard and support the work of Hergé, the comic artist behind the iconic Tintin series. This collaboration has resulted in the creation of two different versions of the Tintin NFTs, which include a limited edition print run of 777 copies and a purely digital NFT limited to 1,777 pieces. The collection features “The Blue Lotus,” an illustration that Hergé created in 1936 and was sold at an auction for €2.6 million ($2.8 million) earlier this year.
The first illustration project created by Hergé in 1936 for the cover of The Blue Lotus was rejected by the publisher because it was too expensive to reproduce in colour. This artwork was sold at auction on January 14th, 2021 for €2.6M (excluding commission).
Each NFT is unique, featuring the geographic coordinates of Tintin’s travel locations and unlocking various benefits, including early access to new versions of “The Blue Lotus” book before publication and exclusive passes to the Hergé museum. The buyers of these Tintin NFTs will also receive a digital brochure created by the renowned Hergéologist, Philippe Goddin. The brochure provides an in-depth look at the creation of the Tintin series and the artistic vision of Hergé.
The “Blue Lotus” NFT collection is now available for purchase on the Digital Tintin website, and payments can be made via credit card. Crossmint’s credit card checkout solution has been integrated to encourage non-crypto native users to adopt Web3 and drive mass adoption of the technology.
Tintin, the beloved comic character, was created by Belgian cartoonist Hergé in 1929. The series follows the adventures of Tintin, a young Belgian reporter, and his dog Snowy. Tintin’s adventures take him to various exotic locations, where he solves mysteries, uncovers secrets, and battles villains. The comic strip was widely popular in Europe and has been translated into more than 70 languages. Tintin is now regarded as a cultural icon and a masterpiece of European comics.
The Tintin series has a long and fascinating history. Hergé began drawing Tintin in 1929 and went on to create 23 comic books featuring the character. The series was known for its intricate plots, meticulous research, and detailed drawings. The books were popular with both children and adults and were often used as a tool for learning in schools. Tintin became a cultural icon, inspiring movies, TV shows, and even a theme park.
The Tintin series has also been the subject of controversy. The early Tintin books were criticized for their racist and colonialist undertones. Some of the characters depicted in the books, such as the Congolese people, were portrayed in a derogatory and stereotypical manner. In later years, Hergé acknowledged his mistakes and took steps to rectify them. He re-drew some of the panels and removed some of the offensive content from the books.
The Tintin NFT collection is an exciting development for the Tintin fanbase. Fans can now own a piece of Tintin history in the form of an NFT.