Dolly’s Peep-show Picture book - Nister’s last movable book

Dolly’s Peep-show Picture book

Nister’s last movable book (Hunt, page 309) - 1917

12 pages containing 4 pop-up illustrations of houses – Doll’s in their house. Doll’s in school. Dolls in a toy shop, and Dolls getting ready for bed.

8 7/8" x 7" oblong quarto

Publisher: Scott & Sleeman* (see Collector’s Corner below), London (Title page illustration signed Nister) Designed in England, printed in Bavaria

Condition: Very Good, All pop-ups are original and perfect without damage. They pop up perfectly. Binding a little loose but still attached, pages in good shape. All original without repairs - very nice copy of a scarce Nister.

Collectors’ Corner:

Notes on this book: Quite rare with no library holdings found.

ROBERT SCOTT and his partner Sleeman owned a Publishing House at Roxburghe House on 7 Paternoster Row in 1907. They published Childrens books as well as calendars.

What is the connection between Englishmen Scott & Sleeman and their predecessors, the company once run by German Ernest Nister (1841–1906), especially during the World War 1 time-frame ?

According to Hunt (page 13 & 14) Nister’s English exports were forced to terminate due to World War 1 and their London office closed in 1917. He also mentions that this and “Change About Pictures” were the last two movable books printed by the Nister Company.
It seems that during World War 1 the British did not want to do business with a German company. It is possible that Scott & Sleeman was either a “front” for publishing Nister’s book under an English publisher’s name, a simple “arrangement” with Nister, or an actual takeover.

Below is some interesting info on Nister and Scott:

According to The Publishers Weekly - Volume 91 -1917 Page 1460:

“ROBERT Scott , the London publisher has purchased thru J. D. Pattullo , acting under instruction if the Board of Trade , the London publishing business formerly carried on by Ernest Nister , a German , at 26 and 28 St. Bride Street , E. C.”

According to The Publisher: The Journal of the Publishing Industry 1917 page 9:

“Robert Scott has pleasure in announcing that, in connection with the business of Ernest Nister , which he recently acquired ... will in future be conducted from Roxburghe House , Paternoster Row , E.C. , under the style of Scott & Sleeman .”

According to British Market - Volume 52 - Page 54,:

“Scott & Sleeman have transferred the business of Ernest Nister to Roxburghe House , Paternoster Row , London , E.C. , and there a spacious showroom is being fitted up for displaying what may be described as the Nister lines. That page goes on to say: “ It is no secret , of course , that the business of Ernest Nister was an enemy concern , and was compulsorily closed by order of the ... The acquiring of the Nister interests in this country by Mr. Robert Scott is a very welcome sign of the times .”

According to The Publisher: The Journal of the Publishing Industry page 333, 1917:

“The business will be continued for the present at the old address , 26 and 28 , St. Bride Street , E.C. , as a distinctly British concern , all new publications in of production being entirely of British manufacture .”