An original and complete issue of the Journal de Tintin, N° 499, French Dargaud edition, dated 15 May 1958. A particularly rich and cross-collectible issue, distinguished by a Jean Graton cover, a serialized Blake and Mortimer episode, and an exceptional double-page cutaway of the Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle. Three distinct collecting categories in a single issue.
The Cover
The cover is the work of Jean Graton, creator of the Michel Vaillant motorsport series and one of the most celebrated automotive illustrators in European comics. The scene is a dramatic police motorcycle pursuit. A uniformed motorcyclist dominates the foreground in steep perspective, leaning hard into a curve in pursuit of a teal sedan vanishing down a dusty road.
It is rendered in Graton's characteristic blend of technical precision and cinematic dynamism. The banner announces "DANS CE NUMÉRO : DISPOSITIF N° 3", the featured thriller story of this issue. The cover colors remain vivid, with some edge wear and corner creasing consistent with 68 years of age.
Blake and Mortimer
"S.O.S. Météores!" by E.P. Jacobs occupies the back cover and opening pages, a serialized Blake and Mortimer episode in full color. The episode visible in the photos is a tense woodland sequence. Blake and Mortimer are confronted by a large guard dog in a forest setting. A car with a Paris registration plate, 2878 CL 75, is involved in the action.
The sequence builds through increasingly tense panels: the dog lunging, the characters running, a confrontation in the undergrowth, before resolving in a dramatic final tier. Jacobs's draftsmanship is at its characteristic best. The woodland backgrounds are meticulous, the figure work precise and expressive, and the color remains strong and unfaded.
Dispositif N° 3
"Dispositif N° 3", the featured story announced on the cover, occupies the central pages. It is a high-energy police thriller strip rendered in a bold red, black, and white scheme of great graphic impact. The action is relentless: motorcycle chases through city streets, a car crash with a full-page "VROOOO" sound effect, police roadblocks, a shooting, crowds gathering.
The strip reads as a breathless urban action sequence with strong cinematic influences. The red-dominant palette gives the pages an urgency and visual heat entirely different from the full-color Jacobs pages.
La Caravelle
"La Caravelle" is the interior's most historically significant content. It is a magnificent double-page cutaway technical illustration of the Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle jet airliner, published in May 1958. That was roughly one year before the Caravelle entered commercial service with Air France on 26 May 1959.
The cutaway diagram identifies over 85 numbered components, from the twin Rolls-Royce Avon engines mounted at the tail to the pressurized cabin, the undercarriage, the fuel systems, and the flight deck. A detailed technical article covers the aircraft's performance and Air France's forthcoming service launch. This is a primary period document of one of the most celebrated aircraft in French aviation history.
The Advertising Pages
The advertising and editorial pages are a vivid record of French consumer culture in May 1958. A feature on the Simca Beaulieu and Simca Chambord includes full technical specifications and a road test article. Advertisements appear for the Vespa 400 and the Somua autobus parisien.
The Noveltex Fête des Pères Grand Concours offers 5,000,000 francs in prizes with a Balearic Islands holiday as first prize. The Chèques Tintin loyalty program lists partner brands including Alsa, Chocolat Poulain, Clairefontaine, and others.
Condition
The magazine is complete and intact, with all pages present and the binding sound. The La Caravelle double-page spread is in particularly fine condition, with colors crisp and no tears or folds. Please review the photos carefully, as they form part of the description.
Key Details
Type: Original vintage comics magazine — complete issue
Publication: Journal de Tintin — Le Journal des Jeunes de 7 à 77 ans
Publisher: G. Dargaud, Paris (French edition) / Éditions du Lombard, Brussels
Issue: N° 499 (French Dargaud edition)
Date: 15 May 1958
Language: French
Dimensions: 21 × 30 cm / 8.3 × 11.8 in
Cover: Jean Graton police motorcycle pursuit illustration; "Dispositif N°3" announced; vivid colors; edge wear and corner creasing
Why It's Special
This issue offers three distinct collecting categories in a single document: a Graton cover, a Jacobs serial, and a landmark aviation cutaway. It appeals to collectors of European comics, vintage print, and aviation history alike. Issues this complete and this rich rarely surface.
One Royal Art
At One Royal Art, we curate distinctive vintage pieces with care. This original Journal de Tintin is ready to join a collection or a home that loves character. Thank you for visiting our store.
