Theater Bilderbuch
Editor: Verlag J.F Schreiber
Author: Franz Bonn
Year: 1882 – (Second Edition -The 2cond edition was published in 1882, the 4th in 1888)
Published in: Esslingen, Germany
13" (33 cm.) x 10"
Large, Elaborate, and Important 19th century movable book by the same publisher and author that were involved with many of the Meggendorfer movables. This historic book has been reproduced in modern times – this however, is the original.
This early edition was published without the forefront scenes that were added to later editions. * (see info under collector’s corner below)
This famous "theater picture book" has four elaborate pop-up scenes as. The gorgeous scenes unfold as a theater picture book.
The 4 pop-up pictures are Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, the Wise Men and Christmas Eve (see photo for actual old German names for the scenes)
All text is in antique old german script
Condition: All pop-up theater scenes are in excellent all original condition with no missing pieces. One of the wise men in popup #3 has some paper loss, see photo – otherwise actual pop-ups are very good. The pages themselves have been rebound, slight chipping on some page edges. The original spine cloth is in good shape – see photos. Original pull-up ribbons in excellent shape.
Collectors Corner:
The patent was accompanied by one sheet of technical drawings. The 1878 filing date and the Esslingen publisher J. F. Schreiber confirm this as one of the earliest patents anywhere for a pop-up/movable book mechanism.
DE6947A — Theater-Bilderbuch (Theater Picture Book)
Patent Number: DE6947A
Authority: DE (Germany)
Original Assignee: J. F. SCHREIBER, Verlagsbuchhandlung, in Esslingen (Württemberg)
Patent Date: Patentirt im Deutschen Reiche vom 29. December 1878 ab (Patented in the German Empire from December 29, 1878)
Class: Klasse 54
English Translation (as provided by Google Patents):
The theater picture book takes the form of an ordinary book. Each leaf has a small handle a in the middle; this handle lifts the sheet, which has been folded four times, upwards, creating a cube shape. This cube is open on two sides b left and right to let in light. The front side c forming the curtain is perforated, while the background is glued to the rear side d. The coulisses g are glued to the upper side e and the bottom /, and the coulisses have a fold h directly at the glued points, which enables them to change their position from the horizontal to the vertical when they are opened.
The patent describes a Theater-Bilderbuch — a book that transforms into a three-dimensional theater scene when opened:
Format: Appears as an ordinary book when closed; each leaf has a small central handle (a)
Opening mechanism: Lifting the handle raises the four-folded sheet upward, creating a cube shape
Lighting: Two sides (b, left and right) are left open to let in light
Proscenium: The front side (c) serves as a curtain and is perforated (cut out)
Background: Glued to the rear side (d)
Stage flats/coulisses: Glued to the top (e) and bottom (/), with a fold (h) at each glue point that allows them to swing from horizontal to vertical when the page is opened
Claim: "The union of scenic representations in book form" — essentially patenting the concept of combining theater diorama scenes within a bound book structure
Patent Claim: The union of scenic representations in book form. For this purpose 1 sheet of drawings.
Edtions:
We have found this book published in 3 languages. French, English, and German. In all three languages, the earliest editions did not have the forefront scenes.
The English Edition: “The Showman’s Series 3, The Theatre Picture Book - Four Scenes for Good Children with New and Improved Decorations and Text”, New York The International News Company. This edition has the forefront scenes and can be seen online here:
http://www.aaawt.com/morin/html/item/theater_book_...
The earliest ad that we could find for the English edition is dated 1884 (in Puck, Volumes 15-16 1884 - American wit and humor, page 223). This earlier 1884 edition does NOT have the forefront scenes pictured in the image shown below.
French Editions: We have two. The first is Théâtre-miniature : Le Petit Chaperon rougeParis, Guérin-Müller et Cie.
This edition does not have the forefront scenes.
Our second French Editon is by the publisher that took over later for Guérin-Müller, A. Capendu. The Capendu version does have the forefront scenes.
German Editions: THEATER BILDERBUCH Editor: Verlag J.F Schreiber. We have two of these. The first one says “With completely new decorations” but does not have the forefront images.
Our OTHER German edition, also a Schreiber, has a different “pub box” than the first and it DOES have the forefront scenes.
Earlier nineteenth century German edition (Does not have forefront scenes):
Later nineteenth century German Editions (both have forefront scenes)