Kubašta, Vojtěch
Pojďte s námi do Betléma (“Come with Us to Bethlehem”)
Prague: [State Printing Works], 1952. First edition - original issue. Uncut nativity construction set.
Complete uncut nativity tableau printed in full color on newspaper-quality stock. Issued as a folio-format Christmas activity set, with all elements intended to be cut, mounted, and folded to construct a three-dimensional Nativity scene. Text in Czech. Instructional text includes prompts such as: “Glue the crib to weaker cardboard, cut it out and fold under” and suggests that windows, doors, and interior details may be cut and enhanced with color or cellophane. All sheets uncut and unassembled as issued. Folio (approx. 12 × 17 in.)
Condition: Very Good to Near Fine. Original color printing is bright and unfaded. No tears, no folds, and no cuts made. Minor age toning and light handling wear as expected for fragile pulp stock. Exceptionally well preserved and fully complete, with all parts untouched.
Description:
This is the original 1952 printing of Pojďte s námi do Betléma, an uncut pop-up-style Nativity scene designed by Czech illustrator Vojtěch Kubašta. It represents the second in a known sequence of four early 1950s Nativity sets created by Kubašta — following a scarce 1951 edition and preceding versions from 1953 and 1954. This early production was printed during a period of material scarcity in postwar Czechoslovakia, and as such, the sheets are on thin, newspaper-grade paper, not card stock.
Unlike his later Artia pop-up panoramas, this Nativity was designed to be assembled by hand from printed sheets, blending Kubašta’s architectural training with Czech folk-art traditions. Because these sheets were meant to be cut up and used during the Christmas season, complete uncut examples are exceptionally scarce.
While a reprint of this set was issued in 1992 by Kubašta’s grandson, this offering is the authentic 1952 original edition, identifiable by its period paper, printing process, and absence of any reprint markings.
Collector’s Corner:
Kubašta’s Nativity sets occupy a foundational place in his paper engineering legacy. Though he later achieved global recognition through his Artia-issued movable books of the 1950s–70s, these early Betlém designs demonstrate the same inventive spatial imagination and strong visual storytelling.
See the November 13 Volume 21 Number 4 edition of Movable Stationary for an informative article on all of Kubasta's later Christmas pop-ups by Theo Gielen.
According to Pop-ups, Illustrated Books, and Graphic Designs of Czech Artist and Paper Engineer, Vojtech Kubašta (1914–1992) by James A. Findlay and Ellen G. K. Rubin: “Among the more collectible and rare of Kubašta’s pop-ups are the nativity tableaux. It is estimated that he made fifteen to seventeen nativities including table decorations, greeting cards, and crèches.”
The very first one appeared in a 1939 Czech magazine called Echoes (we will post photos on this website soon)
The next 4 were all inserted into a Czech magazine
in 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954 as Christmas decorations. They were:
1. ČESKÉ
JESLIČKY – “CZECH crib” –
1951 (re-printed in Czechoslovakia in 1991, by Grafiatisk, A.S., with the later edition on heavier paper and entitled Český Betlém )
1951:
1991: https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/kubasta-cesky-betlem-nativity-p/k-39.htm
2. Pojďte s námi do Betléma - "Come with us to Bethlehem" - 1952 (no known re-prints)
1952: https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/Kubasta-nativity-p/k-70.htm
3. Lidovy Betlem - "People’s Crèche" - 1953 - reprinted in both 1967 and 1991 on heavier paper
1953: https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/Kubasta-nativity-p/k-57.htm
1992: https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/kubasta-lidovy-betlem-1992-nativity-cutout-sheet-p/k-58.htm
4. Moravské Jesličky - "Moravian crib"
- 1954 - no reprints known to us
1954: https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/kubasta-moravske-jeslicky-nativity-1954-p/k-41.htm
Later sets:
Lidove Jesličky - "People's Nativity" - 1967 and 1968 - possible 1991 reprint
1967: https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/Kubasta-nativity-Lidove-Jeslicky-Nativity-p/k-33.htm
Vánoční betlém
- (Looks like a Palm Tree nativity) 1968 Oftis - 1990 Giamon Roman -
later pirated editions in 90's and poorly printed 2011 edition.
1968: https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/kubasta-vanocni-betlem-pop-up-nativity-p/k-45.htm
1992: https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/Kubasta-Stand-Alone-Pop-Up-Nativity-Scene-p/a-21.htm
Pražský betlém - 1968 Orbis, 1969 Orbis and a 1991 panorama construction sheet
1968: https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/kubasta-prazsky-betlem-prague-bethlehem-nativity-p/k-32.htm
Loretansky Betlem - Orbis - 1972
https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/Kubasta-nativity-Loretansky-Betlem-p/k-36.htm
Cesky Betlem. [Czechoslovakia: Grafiatisk, 1991.]
https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/kubasta-cesky-betlem-nativity-p/k-39.htm
References:Gielen, Theo. “Kubašta’s Nativity Sets.” Movable Stationery, Vol. 21, No. 4 (November 2013)
Rubin, Ellen G. Pop-Ups from Prague: A Centennial Celebration of the Graphic Artistry of Vojtěch Kubašta. Grolier Club, 2013
Czech National Library Catalog Records
Private collector correspondence
Note: A reprint of this 1952 set was issued in 1992 by Kubašta’s grandson; this is the original first printing