Draai Maar Verder! (Movable Volvelle Book)
Original Dutch Edition of Turn Again! Turn Again! | Circa 1890
Fürth: Carl Schaller, ca. 1890. First Dutch edition. 10" x 7.75" (25.4 x 19.7 cm). [10] pages. Text in Dutch. Five color lithographed plates, each with an integrated movable volvelle disc.
This rare and visually engaging movable picture book was issued under the title Prettig prentenboek voor groot en klein mit veranderlijke figuren, genomen uit het dagelijksch leven (“Pleasant Picture Book for Young and Old with Changeable Figures Taken from Daily Life”). Each of the five interactive plates features a rotating disc that reveals ten variant faces or scenes—ingeniously designed to animate daily life characters such as Baas Pikdraad, an Englishman, a rocking child, a washerwoman, and a pianist.
This original Dutch edition, bearing Carl Schaller’s “CS” imprint on the front cover, definitively identifies Schaller as the long-speculated publisher of the English-language volvelle book Turn Again! Turn Again!—a 19th-century novelty that was later reproduced in facsimile by Merrimack Publishing in 1980. The original English version bore only the cryptic legend “Made in Germany. 528/11,” and had for decades been erroneously attributed to Lothar Meggendorfer. This edition resolves the bibliographic mystery by confirming Carl Schaller as the true creator.
Condition: Very Good. All five movables are present, fully functional, and complete with original parts. Boards and binding remain in attractive condition with only minor wear consistent with age. See photos for details.
Rarity: Exceptionally scarce. Only one other known copy is held in institutional collections—at the National Library of the Netherlands.
Of Interest: This title is referenced in Lust en Leering: Geschiedenis van het Nederlandse kinderboek in de negentiende eeuw by P.J. Buijnsters and Leontine Buijnsters-Smets, who cite Draai Maar Verder! as one of the most noteworthy Dutch movable books published during the late 19th century.
Bonus Included! This book comes with a rare original invoice from the Carl Schaller Lithographic Institute, Picture Book and Game Factory, and Youth Literature Publishing House. The document is hand-signed by Carl Schaller himself, offering collectors an authentic example of his signature. (Please note: the invoice is not specific to this book, but from the same period and publishing firm.)
Notes on the Publisher:
Vintagepopupbooks is honored to share that our article, “Schaller & Kirn: A Short History and List of Movable Books,” has just been published in The Journal of Interactive Books (Vol. 4, 2025) — a prestigious annual publication, now officially recognized as a Class A scientific journal.
The article explores the overlooked legacy of Schaller & Kirn, a short-lived but prolific 19th-century German publisher of movable picture books. It includes both historical context and the most complete catalog of their known titles to date — a contribution I hope will support future research into early movable publishing.
Read the full article here:
https://jib.pop-app.org/index.php/jib/issue/view/5
See below: the Merrimack Publishing reprint of the 19th-century English edition. (Not for sale)
Princeton University holds a copy of the original English version.
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