LITTLE PETS ABC PANORAMA / OPTICAL TOY THEATER STAGE McLOUGHLIN BROS
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LITTLE PETS ABC PANORAMA
McLoughlin
Bros. Of New York circa: 1875
Overall: 1 5/8 x 7 3/4 x 7
in. ( 4.1 x 19.7 x 17.8 cm )
The
long, panoramic strip measures approx. 4 1/2" wide.
Description: Turn the wooden rollers
to see a “show” of twenty-eight scenes, one for each letter of the alphabet.
Each scene has a child whose name begins with that letter performing an
activity. For example: “W is Walter
Flying a kite”
Having the same illustrations, this is a movable version of McLoughlin children’s book Major’s Alphabet (1870)
Condition: Good condition. The Stage is complete and intact. The wooden handles are original. Light soiling and foxing
to the pastedown on the front panel with a couple of small tears. The strip is
bright and looks good. One vertical tear with slight tape staining was at some
point repaired with backing that extends through the last half of the panorama
roll. Several other tears have hand-sewn thread repairs. The strip is complete
and advances smoothly with the rollers.
Collector's Corner:
The Publishers' Trade List Annual - Page 41 - 1876 states: Each style of panorama has a proscenium, and the larger ones are enclosed in pasteboard cases. As such, we assume that the smaller ones, such as ABC, did not come with a case.
The illustrator William Momberger (1829-1895*) was one of several key illustrators, alongside others like Thomas Nast and Palmer Cox, who helped define the aesthetic style of the era's children's books. Momberger was involved in illustrating a variety of McLoughlin Brothers' publications. This collaboration lasted until the late 1880s, by which time McLoughlin Brothers had become a leading name in the industry, eventually continuing under the Milton Bradley Company after being sold in 1920 (American Antiquarian Society) (Wikipedia) (Buffalo & Erie County Public Library).
Momberger was a native of Germany born on June 7, 1829, in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. He learned lithography and art in his native Germany. Due to his involvement in the revolution of 1848, he immigrated to the United States that year. In 1852 he set up a lithography firm, Coughey and Momberger in New York City. Most active with publishing companies in the 1850s and 60’s . He illustrated many books for McLoughlin. He was still illustrating as late as 1888. In his leisure, he painted paintings. His obituary states that he was one of the last of the “Old American Illustrators” and that he died peacefully sitting in the grape arbor of his garden on April 9, 1895 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.
*Momberger Obituary – The record, A current record of art, bibliography, and antiquarianism published semi-monthly. Volume 6 number 12, April 15, 1895. Page 4
Collect them all !
McLoughlin's scrolling panoramas include:
Menagerie of Wild Animals Panorama: featuring lithographed images of wild animals in their natural habitats.
Minstrels Panorama: featuring lithographed images of minstrels and musicians.
Zoological Panorama: featuring lithographed images of various animals, including elephants, lions, and monkeys.
Panorama of the Greatest Show on Earth (circus): featuring lithographed images of circus performers, animals, and scenes.
Cinderella Grand Panorama: featuring lithographed images of scenes from the fairy tale of Cinderella.
Uncle Sam's panorama of Rip van Winkle and Yankee Doodle: featuring lithographed images of scenes from the stories of Rip van Winkle and Yankee Doodle.
Humpty Dumpty Panorama: featuring lithographed images of scenes from the nursery rhyme of Humpty Dumpty.
Uncle Sam Panorama: featuring lithographed images of Uncle Sam and patriotic scenes.
Major's Panorama Alphabet: featuring lithographed images of the letters of the alphabet, each with an accompanying image.
Panorama Nursery Alphabet: featuring lithographed images of the letters of the alphabet, each with an accompanying nursery rhyme.
About McLoughlin Brothers:
McLoughlin Brothers, founded by John McLoughlin Jr. and his brother Edmund, specialized in children's literature and educational materials, including toy books, comic almanacs, and valentines. The firm was notable for its innovative use of color in illustrations, progressing from hand-stenciling to more advanced techniques like chromolithography.
McLoughlin Bros was a New York publisher of books, puzzles, games and paper dolls. Savvy about modern marketing and production, McLoughlin was able to pirate and copyright titles by greats such as JF Schreiber and Dean & Son for the American market as well as produce their own originals. They were in business from 1828 until 1920 when they were bought out by Milton Bradley, Inc. Milton Bradley continued to use the brand “Mcloughlin brothers”, including the 1930’s 40’s series of pop-up books - "Jolly Jump-Ups" but the McLoughlin division of Milton Bradley shut down during World War II . In 1951, the McLoughlin Bros. brand was bought by New York toy manufacturer Julius Kushner. Some of the the Jolly Jump-Ups were reissued at that time. Finally sold to Grosset & Dunlap in 1954. Several more Mcloughlin books were issued, but we ceased seeing the imprint by the 1970s.
We will soon publish a more detailed bio under our Movable Book History section
Product Code: Z-3A
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