Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd.
Father Tuck's Buttercup Farm Panorama Book (Panorama Book)
London, Paris, and New York: Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., n.d. [ca 1911]. First Edition
Oblong 16mo (4 × 5 inches). [8] pp. including four double-page chromolithographed die-cut plates with punch-out figures, tabs, and background scenery. Original stiff pictorial wrappers, stapled at spine; upper cover title and color vignette of farm animals, rear cover with publisher’s advertising text and printed assembly instructions.
An exceptionally well-preserved example of this scarce panorama toy book from Raphael Tuck’s “Father Tuck’s Panorama” series. Designed as an interactive diorama, the book features farm animals and scenery elements that the child could punch out and stand upright using the integrated slots and tabs. This copy remains unpunched, with all figures, text, and tabs intact — an extremely rare survival. Includes original directions for constructing the scene and the printed nursery story text describing the animals on Buttercup Farm.
Condition: VG. All punch-out figures present and unpunched. Covers clean - see photos. Binding firm and original but slightly cocked No marks, tears, or damage. A VG copy of this fragile and rarely seen title.
Collector’s Corner:
Identifying First vs. Second Editions:
First editions (c. 1907–1914) often bear the imprint “Publishers to Their Majesties the King & Queen” beneath the instructions. Second editions lack this royal warrant and instead show the 1931 patent reference.
While the imprint “London · Paris · New York / Printed in Bavaria” was primarily used by Raphael Tuck & Sons between the 1890s and 1914, the line “Patent Applied For 12879/31” printed on the instruction page conclusively dates this edition to 1931 or shortly after. The UK patent format “/31” denotes the year of application or registration (1931), and the filing is attributed to Gustave and Desmond A. Tuck, indicating a second edition reissue.
Originally issued between 1907 and 1910, the Panorama Toy Book series was revived in 1931 and listed in the 1932 Raphael Tuck catalogue under the banner Father Tuck’s Picture Land Panoramas. Sets were also sold boxed.
Second Editions: 
irst editions (pre-WWI) - circa 1911-1914 can often be identified by the phrase “Publishers to Their Majesties the King & Queen” under the imprint on the instruction page
First editions: 
This miniature panorama book is part of Raphael Tuck’s beloved Father Tuck’s Panorama Series, a line of interactive chromolithographed toy books that allowed children to cut out, stand up, and arrange colorful tableaux. These were marketed both individually and as gift sets, and were also used as advertising premiums.
Each booklet includes a colorful embossed cover, detailed cut-out sheets, a punch-out base page, and a rhymed story text—offering both narrative and imaginative play. Despite their ephemeral format and small size, complete, unpunched examples are exceedingly rare.
Titles in the Series (1932 Catalogue):
No. 7000 – Feathered Friends
No. 7001 – Buttercup Farm
No. 7002 – Robinson Crusoe
No. 7003 – Little Red Riding Hood
No. 7004 – Cinderella
No. 7005 – The Three Little Kittens
No. 7006 – Little Snow White
No. 7007 – Beauty and the Beast
No. 7008 – Off for the Holidays
Other editions and promotional variants also include:
Forest and Jungle
The Toy Army
A rare German-language counterpart has also been identified: Aschenbrodel: Bilder zum Ausschneiden und Aufstellen (Hannover: Mölling & Comp.), a Cinderella-themed panorama that reuses the same plates. Mölling printed for Raphael Tuck and occasionally issued their own editions in other languages (see Sheridan-Quantz, 2013).
Continental Variant:
A rare German-language edition of this punch-out panorama series has been identified under the title Aschenbrödel: Bilder zum Ausschneiden und Aufstellen ("Cinderella: Pictures to Cut Out and Display"), published by Molling & Comp. C-G., Hannover. A copy of this edition can be viewed on our site:
https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/Antique-Panorama-by-Molling-FINE-condition-p/t-1b.htm
Molling & Comp. was among several German firms that printed books for Raphael Tuck & Sons in the early 20th century. In certain cases, Molling repurposed Raphael Tuck's original lithographic plates or stones for use in their own publications. These adaptations were not mere reprints but included translated text and subtle design changes tailored to non-English-speaking markets.
Further Reading:
Whitton, Blair & Margaret. Collector’s Guide to Raphael Tuck & Sons: Paper Dolls, Paper Toys & Children’s Books. Hobby House Press, 1991. A definitive illustrated reference with historical context, detailed entries, and rare images.
Montanaro, Ann. “Raphael Tuck History.” Movable Stationery, Vol. 13, No. 2 (May 2005). Reprinted and updated with permission at:
VintagePopupBooks – Raphael Tuck History
TuckDB Ephemera. An expansive online archive documenting Raphael Tuck’s vast output of books, postcards, and novelties. Includes high-resolution scans, dating tools, and full reproductions of historic Tuck catalogs: https://www.tuckdbephemera.org.
Together, these resources offer essential context for understanding the artistic, cultural, and historical impact of one of the most prolific publishers of late 19th- and early 20th-century children’s books.
References:
Blair & Margaret Whitton. Collector's Guide to Raphael Tuck & Sons: Paper Dolls, Paper Toys and Children's Books. Hobby House Press, 1991.
Ann Montanaro. “Raphael Tuck History.” Movable Stationery, Vol. 13, No. 2, May 2005. Reprinted at VintagePopupBooks.com.
UK Patent No. 12879/31, filed 1931.
Sheridan-Quantz, Edel. “'Our publications are available worldwide': A Forgotten German Printer and His Global Connections 1887–1939.” Chimera: The Journal of the Institute of Children’s Literature 26 (2023): 59–68. https://journals.ucc.ie/index.php/chimera/article... (Molling)