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Welcome to Vintage Pop-Up Books, an online resource dedicated to rare and antiquarian movable books. We offer scarce books for sale and publish original research on publishers, artists, and paper-engineered mechanisms. Our research has been published in Movable Stationery as well as The International Journal of Interactive Books. We focus on nineteenth- and early twentieth-century movable and interactive books, artists’ books, and related ephemera. Sold items remain documented in our Virtual Museum so researchers have a stable citation even after acquisition. Portions of our family collection are held by the Virginia Commonwealth University Library’s Special Collections, and items from our collection have been exhibited internationally. We regularly place movables with institutional buyers and support teaching, cataloging, and exhibition needs. We provide ABAA-style descriptions with collation and references; provenance notes when known; high-resolution images and condition reports on request; pro-forma quotes and purchase orders (tax-exempt sales; W-9 available); and insured, trackable, signature-required shipping. Sold items remain documented in our Virtual Museum so your researchers have a stable citation after acquisition. Pro forma quotes, purchase orders accepted, tax-exempt sales, W-9 available.
My article "Schaller & Kirn: A Short History and List of Movable Books" appears in the Journal of Interactive Books, Vol. 4 (2025), an open-access, peer-reviewed annual published by the POP-APP International Centre on Interactive Books at the Fondazione Tancredi di Barolo (Turin) and recognized by ANVUR as a Class A scientific journal (Area 11/A4). The article examines the overlooked legacy of Schaller & Kirn, a short-lived but prolific nineteenth-century German publisher of movable picture books, and presents the most complete catalog of their known titles to date, with historical context to support future research.
I have also published in Movable Stationery, the journal of the Movable Book Society, a forum where artists, booksellers, publishers, collectors, and curators share research on pop-up and movable books, including: “Dean & Son Publishers: A Short History,” Movable Stationery 21, no. 2 (2013): 3–7; and “G. Lowensohn: Children’s Books, Fürth,” Movable Stationery 22, no. 1 (February 2014). Vintage Pop-Up Books began as a family passion. This site was founded by my mother, Dr. Betty Tisinger, a retired Professor Emerita and former Department Head of Art Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. A collector since 1980, she taught me to see these books as "little works of art" and as records of design, printing, and childhood culture. Today, we continue that tradition by researching each book we offer, preserving images and documentation in our Virtual Museum, and sharing what we learn with the community of collectors and institutions who care about the history of interactive books. (If you would like quotes, images, or condition reports for acquisition review, please get in touch. We are happy to coordinate with your acquisitions team and provide whatever documentation you need).
Betty Tisinger's passion for these little works of art is showcased in her extensive collection, many for sale here – and many of which are permanently housed in the Library of Special Collections Division at Virginia Commonwealth University. Our commitment to preserving and documenting the history of these treasures is evident through ongoing research efforts and collaborations with collectors worldwide.
A recent article about her collection can be seen here: https://vcu.exposure.co/pop-art 
At Vintage Pop-Up Books, we specialize in rare and collectible editions
spanning from early 19th-century publications to modern limited editions by
renowned artists and paper engineers. Each entry in our collection is
meticulously researched and continuously updated in the Collector’s Corner
section of our listings, incorporating new findings and insights from the
global collector community.
Books sold through our platform remain accessible in our Virtual Museum,
ensuring continued access to our research on each piece. Explore our Movable
Book History Section, where all our research information is freely available.
Our dedication extends to fostering interest among new collectors, with books
described in accessible language and a hassle-free return policy.
Exhibits: Over 100 movables from our collection were on exhibit in Europe. We were delighted that so many of our Holiday themed "little works of art" were exhibited in Spain during December 2014 and January 2015 at the University of Santiago de Compostela. The exhibit was titled A Christmas in Full Dimensions. A view of the exhibition can be seen here: https://www.usc.gal/gl/xornal/novas/biblioteca-internacional-diversidade-cultural-usc-acolle-primeira-espana-coleccion 
For inquiries about purchasing, consigning, or contributing to our ongoing research efforts, please contact us at [email protected]. Join us in celebrating the marvel and artistry of movable books, where each one truly does represent "A little work of art". Thank you for exploring our unique collection! Jo Tisinger, Bookseller  |
