Kubasta, Vojtech. Prazsky Betlem (Prague Bethlehem).
Prague: Orbis, 1968. First edition.
Illustrated card construction (330 x 250 mm closed; 500 x 250 x 250 mm unfolded).
Printed in Czechoslovakia. SG-V. Senov.
Accordion-folded pop-up nativity scene featuring Prague landmarks, including Charles Bridge and St. Vitus Cathedral. Includes both original freestanding cut-out figures: the kneeling Magi and a group of four musicians (violinist, trumpeter, oboist, cellist) with a singing dog.
Condition: Near Fine. All components present and original. Mechanism intact and functioning smoothly. Light age-toning to boards; no damage or restoration noted.
Provenance and Rarity: First edition of Kubasta’s Prazsky Betlem, printed in 1968 in an edition of 40,000 copies. A second printing followed in 1969 (not released until 1970), and a third in 1991. The 1968 issue is the most desirable, especially complete with freestanding figures.
Collector’s Corner: Kubasta’s nativity scenes are among his most collected works. According to Findlay and Rubin (Pop-Ups, Illustrated Books, and Graphic Designs of Czech Artist and Paper Engineer Vojtech Kubasta, Bienes Museum, 2005), Kubasta produced 15–17 nativity-related formats ranging from greeting cards to full architectural crèches. For a scholarly article covering Kubasta’s Christmas output, see Theo Gielen’s “Kubasta’s Christmas Pop-Ups” in Movable Stationary, Vol. 21, No. 4 (November 13).
Kubasta’s nativity series began with cut-and-assemble sheets published in a Czech Magazine 1952–1954:
Known examples of Kubasta’s nativity 3d scenes include:
Pojdte s nami do Betlema – "Come with Us to Bethlehem" (1952)
Lidovy Betlem – "People’s Creche" (1953; reprinted 1967 and 1991).
Moravske Jeslicky – "Moravian Crib" (1954).
Lidove Jeslicky – "People’s Nativity" (1967 and 1968; possible 1991 reprint).
Vanocni Betlem – Oftis, 1968 (also issued 1990 by Giamon Roman and later pirated versions in the 1990s and 2011).
Prazsky Betlem – Orbis, 1968 and 1969; reissued as a construction panorama sheet in 1991.
Loretansky Betlem – Orbis, 1972 (this edition).
Cesky Betlem – Printed nativity sheet, 1991 (possible earlier printing unconfirmed).
These items are especially sought after when complete with all movable or freestanding elements.