Gulliver in Brobdingnag (Pop-Up Book) – Illustrated by Voitech Kubasta
London: Westminster Books / Bancroft & Co., [n.d., ca. 1960s]. An Artia production. Printed in Czechoslovakia. Series: Westminster Books No. 333.
Folio (12 3/4 x 9 inches; 32.4 x 22.8 cm). [18] pages (including inner boards) with color illustrations. Includes two double-page chromolithographic pop-up scenes mounted to inside covers. Cover with die-cut magnifying glass through which the Brobdingnagians peer at Gulliver.
Condition: Very good. Both pop-up spreads are complete, fully functional, and show no signs of repair. The cellophane window pane remains intact. One figure exhibits a minor crease, but all components are original and in excellent condition. Boards are bright with slight bumping to corners. Binding firm. Please refer to photos for further detail.
Description:
A vibrant retelling of one of Gulliver’s most iconic adventures—his visit to Brobdingnag, the land of giants—this mid-century pop-up book pairs Jonathan Swift’s classic narrative with the visual and engineering talents of Vojtech Kubasta. Renowned for his inventive designs, Kubasta’s double-page pop-ups convey theatrical depth and scale, enhanced here by the die-cut magnifying glass motif on the front board.
Collector’s Corner:
Vojtech Kubasta (1914–1992) was a Czech architect, artist, and pioneer of movable books whose work has become highly sought after by collectors. His collaboration with Artia and Bancroft & Co. in the 1960s brought his designs to an international audience. This title, part of the Westminster Books series, is a notable example of his style: bold compositions, detailed chromolithography, and complex fold-out engineering.
Though often mistakenly dated to later reprints, this edition—printed in Czechoslovakia and marked as an Artia production—is consistent with Kubasta’s first wave of international pop-up works from the early 1960s.
Excerpt from the text:
"When I awoke, I told the captain my entire story... It took me some time to convince him that my strange tale of the giants of Brobdingnag was really true... And that, dear children, is the end of the story of my adventures in Brobdingnag, the land of giants. I hope you enjoyed it."
References:
Collection of Vojtěch Kubašta, Dianne and Michael Bienes Special Collections and Rare Book Library, Bienes Museum of the Modern Book, Broward County Library. Call number: POPUP KUBASTA R FIC GULLIVER.
OCLC Number: 17369073.