Tintin and the shopping spree: A Delhi store brings rare collectibles to fans across India for the first time

A panel from Tintin and King Ottokar’s Sceptre. PICS COURTESY/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS; MAYA TOY STORE

Billions of bilious blue blistering barnacles. If you are familiar with this desperate cry of exasperation, you are a true friend of Tintin, Snowy, Professor Calculus and the ever-annoyed Captain Haddock. Created in 1929 by Georges Remi or Herge, the young Belgian journalist redefined the idea of adventure for many children. For Anirudh Dawar (right), owner, Maya Toy Store, it was an adventure he grew up with. This year, the 75-year-old toy store in the Capital acquired the rights as the official Indian merchandisers from the Belgian studio, Moulinsarts.

"The studio completed 100 years in 2024. If you measure popularity though, it is most popular among fans in Kolkata. This comes down to the fact that Tintin, apart from being published in French and English, has also been published in Bengali. It also has a strong connection to collectors and fans who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, reading the comics, watching the cartoons on television," Dawar admits.

The store's online collection is a treasure hoard for fans with collectibles, posters, cups, postcards to model cars. "We have all the model cars as well as biplanes depicted in the books," Dawar shares.

LOG ON TO mayatoys.in (for all merchandise)
CALL 9811381334 (Janpath, New Delhi)

The Guide's top picks

Dynamic duo
Nothing adds quirk to your collection like the series' bumbling detective duo Thomson and Thompson in striped bathing suits.
Cost: Rs 1599

Tintin and Snowy watch
Wear your love for Tintin on your sleeve with this collector's edition timepiece.
Cost: Rs 9999

Learn from the master
Learn the secret to Herge clean lines and immortal art, with the collector's edition publication of The Art of Herge.
Cost: Rs 3999

Space memories
For a generation, the red-and-white checkered rocket from Destination Moon was the first imagery of the era's space race.
Cost: Rs 699

Post it up
Looking to impress with your Christmas messages? Try these pop-up postcards from The Calculus Affair.
Cost: Rs 599

Magnetic appeal
Get your Tintin love on the fridge with this set of magnet collectibles
Cost: Rs 1199

Clean cuts
This one might be just for the loyal fans to keep with your personal toiletries.
Cost: Rs 999

For the car connoisseurs
Nothing says Tintin like the memory of classic cars. If you are a fan, then do not miss this taxi model from the The Curse of the Incas.
Cost: Rs 8999

Bags of fun
If you are looking to style up your shopping trip, pick up this semi-waterproof carry bag for your next outing.
Cost: Rs 699