The original cover artwork for Hergé's Tintin in America has sold for €1.3m ($1.6m) at an auction in France.

In doing so it beat the previous €764,218 world record for a piece of original comic book cover art, set by the same drawing in 2008, by 75.1%, or 14.4% pa.

It had come to the June 2 auction with a €1m estimate, and sold to an anonymous bidder.

It is one of five Hergé original ink and gouache cover artworks in existence, and one of only two in private hands, which helps explain its stunning price. The fact that it is one of the earliest Tintin books, as shown by the less sophisticated strokes of Herge's pen, will no doubt also have boosted its appeal to collectors.

Hergé yet to perfect his craft - Tintin In America

Hergé produced Tintin in America in 1932, the third of 24 books detailing the adventures of the Belgian reporter and his canine sidekick, Snowy. More than 200m Tintin books have sold around the world.

Cartoon art is one of the most exciting areas of collecting right now, as this sale demonstrates. Take a look at the many pieces we have available to you today.

The sale also featured a copy of the Tintin book Explorers on the Moon, signed by Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

It sold for €42,000 ($64,940), far above its €10,000 estimate, evidence of the current demand for the signatures of the first Moonwalkers.

We have a Life magazine page signed by all three astronauts currently available for just £9,500 ($14,690).

Paul Fraser Collectibles will continue to bring you the latest from the world's cartoon art sales throughout the year.