La Mère Michel. A Matched Pair of Movable Books by Pierre Delcourt.
Paris: A. Capendu, ca. 1890.
Two volumes. Quarto (260 × 200 mm). Original half-cloth over pictorial color-lithographed boards. Each volume comprises an illustrated title page and four double-page chromolithographed pull-tab movable plates. All movable mechanisms complete and in working order.
"Boy & Girl" Pair
An exceptionally appealing matched pair of La Mère Michel. Although the movable interiors are identical, the publisher produced the book with two entirely different pictorial bindings—one depicting a young boy reading with his faithful dog and cat, the other a young girl absorbed in her book. Whether intentionally marketed as companion "Boy" and "Girl" editions or issued as alternate publisher's bindings, they create one of the most charming pairing opportunities among French movable books of the period. Offered together, they vividly demonstrate the publisher's practice of presenting the same beloved movable story in two distinct guises.
This pair illustrates two distinct publisher's presentations of the same movable book, differing not only in their pictorial bindings but also in their preliminary matter and method of construction. Beyond the contrasting bindings, the two volumes also differ bibliographically. The "Boy" variant includes flyleaves, a separate illustrated title page bearing the A. Capendu imprint, and ten unnumbered pages. The "Girl" variant was issued without flyleaves or title page, the story beginning immediately on the inside front board, with no publisher's imprint present, comprising eight unnumbered pages. Despite these differences, both volumes contain the identical French text and the same four original chromolithographed pull-tab movable plates.
Book 1 (Boy Variant): This cover shows a young boy dressed in a traditional blue sailor suit reading outdoors or in a rustic setting, flanked by two large, loyal dogs and a cat. It emphasizes action, companionship, and adventure, which were traits traditionally marketed to young boys at the time.The Boy variant includes flyleaves, a separate title page bearing the publisher's imprint, and the story proper begins thereafter. (10 unnumbered pages in all including title page).
Book 2 (Girl Variant): This cover depicts a young girl with long blonde curls, dressed in a delicate light-blue gown and sitting indoors on an ornate wooden armchair. She is accompanied by a fairy doll, and a badminton-style shuttlecock rests on the floor nearby. This imagery emphasizes gentleness, indoor domestic play, and fantasy, which heavily targeted young girls.The Girl variant was issued without fly leaves or title page; the first story page is pasted directly to the inside front board as published, and no publisher's imprint appears. (8 unnumbered pages in all)
Whether viewed as alternate publisher's bindings, separate issues, or possible companion "Boy" and "Girl" presentations, this matched pair offers a rare opportunity to study two distinct manifestations of one of Pierre Delcourt's most engaging movable books.
They contain one of Capendu's most famous movable scenes – Two Kitty Cats pop up their heads to sing :) - see photos
Condition: Both volumes are in good condition, with all original movable plates complete, undamaged, and operating smoothly. The Boy variant has had a couple of pull tabs and the endpapers professionally restored; the repairs are skillfully executed and do not detract from the appearance or functionality of the book. The Girl variant remains entirely original with all movables complete and working as well - slight tearing around pull tabs.
Dating: Although undated, specialized bibliographic records, including WorldCat and the Bibliothèques de Toulouse, identify La Mère Michel as an album à transformations by Pierre Delcourt published by A. Capendu and generally assign it to circa 1890. The style of chromolithography, publisher's binding, and movable construction are consistent with this dating.
Specialized bibliographic entries (e.g., Bibliothèques de Toulouse and WorldCat) confirm its format as an album à transformations by Delcourt published by A. Capendu without a specific date, supporting a ca. 1890 publication .
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Collectors Corner
Pierre Delcourt (1852–1931) was a prolific French author whose literary career was born from hardship and persistence. Orphaned at age 21, Delcourt became head of a young family and moved to Paris with just 13 francs. He briefly worked at a police station and later as a reporter under the pseudonym Paul Didier. In 1879, his fortunes shifted when he became secretary to popular novelist Alexis Bouvier, who mentored him. Delcourt’s first published novel, Agence Taboureau (Rouff, 1881), was followed by Ficelle (1882), and his breakout work L'Instruction (Marpon, 1883). He went on to publish widely in newspapers and novels across genres. His first children’s book collaboration, Les Vacances de Baby (1892), was published by Guérin-Muller, whose juvenile publishing line soon merged with A. Capendu. Between 1892 and 1899, Delcourt authored around 200 children’s titles for Capendu, many featuring movable elements. In parallel, he pursued his passions for archaeology and Parisian history, contributing works on adult subjects to other presses.
About the Publisher: A. Capendu
The French publishing house A. Capendu, founded by Alexandre Capendu, operated in Paris from approximately 1890 until the mid-20th century. Located at 3, rue des Haudriettes, the firm succeeded the earlier publisher Guérin-Muller, which Capendu acquired around 1880. Capendu gained recognition for its richly illustrated children's books and was particularly known for its production of movable books under the series Librairie enfantine illustrée.
Two of Capendu’s most prolific authors were Armand Bourgade and Pierre Delcourt, the latter contributing over 200 children’s titles to the firm. Capendu’s movables often featured elaborate paper engineering and chromolithography, reflecting the publisher’s commitment to both visual appeal and interactivity.
By the late 19th century, movable books had become a thriving international genre. Capendu capitalized on this demand, issuing both original titles and adaptations of existing works for the French-speaking market. The publisher frequently collaborated with major international firms such as Schreiber and G. Löwensohn in Germany, and Dean & Son and Raphael Tuck in England. In some cases, Capendu reissued foreign titles in translation, while in others it produced original works inspired by international counterparts.
One noteworthy example of this cross-cultural publishing strategy is Capendu’s French-language edition of The Magic Lantern – Struwwelpeter, originally published in English by Frederick Warne circa 1890.
Due to the layered history of reprints, collaborations, and adaptations, attribution of Capendu titles can be complex. The firm’s output ranges from direct translations to re-illustrated versions and wholly original productions. We hope to publish a comprehensive list of known Capendu movable book titles in the near future to aid collectors and scholars alike.
Additional Note on Capendu and Raphael Tuck Collaborations
Many of Capendu’s movable books from the 1880s and 1890s were localized French editions of titles originally published by Raphael Tuck in England under the “Father Tuck’s Mechanical Series.” These titles were also sometimes printed in Bavaria. French versions include Le Général Po-Pol, La Mère Michel, Les Farces de Gachéon, Miaou-Miaou, Le petit Poucet, Cendrillon, and Histoire de Robinson Crusoé. While the imagery and structure were largely retained, differences in content and movable count can sometimes be observed. Over time, repeated use of the original lithographic stones may have led to visible reductions in image clarity and color fidelity in later print runs.
References:
"Movable Stationery No. 111." Movable Book Society Newsletter, 2003. https://ia802902.us.archive.org/26/items/movablestation1112003mova/movablestation1112003mova.pdf
Delcourt Biographical References
Carnoy, Henry. International Biographical Dictionary of Writers. Translated ed. Hildesheim: Georg Olms Verlag, 1987.
On Animated Books & Related Topics
Desse, Jacques. “Animated Book.” In Dictionnaire encyclopédique du livre, edited by Pascal Fouché, Daniel Péchoin, and Philippe Schuwer, Vol. 2, 1005. Paris: Cercle de la Librairie, 2011.
Youth and Industrial Literature
Librairie de jeunesse et littérature industrielle au xixe siècle. Paris: Champion, 2006.
Thesis on Animated Books Transformation
Vanbersel, Anouk. “Recreation Pédagogique: Les Transformations Éditoriales et Culturelles du Livre Animé.” Master’s thesis, University, June 2018.
Primary and Archival Sources
National Library of France, Manuscript Department. Cote NAF 23782.
Naudet, Joseph, and Charles Magnin. Plan of a New Classification for the Series in the Catalog of Printed Matter at the National Library. Paris: National Library of France, [date unknown].