ALICE IN WONDERLAND PANORAMA WITH MOVEABLE PICTURES
Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., London, Paris & New York, 1908. First Edition. No. 8594.
An exceptionally charming and complete example of Raphael Tuck & Sons' celebrated Panorama with Moveable Pictures series, illustrated by A. L. Bowley and first published in 1908.
This interactive panorama adapts Lewis Carroll's beloved Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The work was designed to be animated through the placement of separately printed color figures, allowing children to recreate and rearrange scenes from the story.
The panorama consists of four color-printed panels folded concertina-style, with the original pocket at the rear containing the complete set of fifteen movable color figures, all present and in excellent condition. The accompanying instructions encourage children to arrange the figures according to the numbered scenes or create their own combinations.
The illustrations by A. L. Bowley are among the most attractive produced for Raphael Tuck's early movable publications.
Physical Description
Publisher: Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., London, Paris & New York
Date: 1908
Series: Panorama with Moveable Pictures, No. 8594
Illustrator: A. L. Bowley
Format: Four-panel concertina panorama in original color pictorial wrappers
Complete with all 15 original color movable figures
Original rear storage pocket present
Tuck easel-and-palette trademark
Imprint: "Publishers to Their Majesties the King & Queen"
Designed in England – Printed in Bavaria
Condition
A complete and well-preserved example. All fifteen movable figures are present and remain in fine condition. The panorama remains sound. The original pictorial wrappers exhibit moderate edge wear and light soiling consistent with age and use. The original envelope flap remains present but has become detached and will be supplied loose within the volume for preservation. A contemporary pencil gift inscription dated 4 August 1908 appears in the upper right corner of the front cover.
Overall, a good, complete, example of one of Raphael Tuck's most desirable early movable panoramas.
Collectors Corner:
First issued in 1908, this edition predates the better-known 1926 reissue. Early examples bearing the royal warrant designation "Publishers to Their Majesties the King & Queen" are considerably scarcer and especially sought after by collectors of Alice in Wonderland, movable books, and Raphael Tuck publications.
Notes:
*Between 1900 and 1910 Date of publication understood from publisher's imprint, cf. Blair & Margaret Whitton's Collector's guide to Raphael Tuck & Son, p. [6]. Published during the reign of King Edward VII.
We can further narrow the date down by this "introductory editorial" introducing the new panorama books in 1908:
From The American Stationer, Volume 64 Howard Lockwood, 1908 - Stationery trade page 26:
"The picture panorama is the latest novelty for children put on the market by Raphael Tuck & Sons, These panoramas come in colored booklets, each one containing a number Of figures arranged for cutting out and standing up apart. like the Old fashioned paper soldiers. But the figures are more attractive than those play-
things of the last generation ; they come in a greater variety of subjects and are profusely colored. The figures in each book- let make a part of a series of tableaux illustrating fairy stories, etc. Many Of the booklets contain birds and Wild and exotic animals. They are well drawn and colored perfectly, showing a regard for accuracy that ought to make some Of the "nature fakirs" feel envious."
About the Illustrator: A. L. BowleyAda Leonora Bowley (1867–1954), who signed her work A. L. Bowley, was one of the distinguished illustrators of the so-called "Golden Age of Illustration" spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Educated at the Blackheath School of Art, she became closely associated with Raphael Tuck & Sons, for whom she illustrated numerous books, annuals, postcards, and children's publications, although her contributions often went uncredited.
Ada worked throughout her career alongside her elder sister, Sophia May Bowley (1864–1960), who signed her work M. Bowley or MB. The sisters remained devoted companions throughout their lives, living and working together while producing some of the most charming and recognizable illustrations published by Raphael Tuck during the Edwardian era.
Raphael Tuck developed a particularly close professional relationship with the Bowley sisters, commissioning them to illustrate a wide variety of popular publications, including fairy tales, nursery stories, annuals, and holiday cards. Their delicate yet expressive style, characterized by vivid color, theatrical composition, and appealing characterizations, helped define the visual identity of many Tuck publications during the early twentieth century.
Neither sister married, and both maintained active social and artistic lives. Among their circle of friends was the celebrated children's author Edith Nesbit. Today, the Bowley sisters are recognized as important contributors to the golden age of British children's illustration, and Ada's lively interpretation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland remains among the most attractive and enduring examples of Raphael Tuck's movable and interactive publications.
Raphael Tuck Movable Panoramas - Collect then all!
Following the image below is a list of other Tuck panoramas with separate figures to insert into slots.
Dating each edition depends on publishers info on back. Some of the early ones were reprinted in the 1920's and or 90's.
We are very appreciative of the website TuckDB Ephemera when it comes to researching Raphael Tuck. The image below came from their website and was taken from Raphael Tucks 1928 "WORLD'S ART SERVICE" catalog.
Following is a list of other Tuck panoramas with separate figures to insert into slots.
Dating each edition depends on publishers info on back. Some of the early ones were reprinted in the 1920's and or 90's.
We
greatly appreciate the wisdom of other collectors who email us to
comment, add titles, or make corrections. We welcome any additional
input to this list sent to [email protected]
Days in Catland with Louis Wain. Father Tuck’s Panorama. [1895]
Father Tuck’s Express Train Panorama With Movable Pictures [1895]
Father Tuck's Railway Express ["Flying Scotsman"] Panorama with Movable Pictures [c. 1895]
Father Tuck’s Alice in Wonderland, Panorama. [1908 & 1926]
Father Tuck’s Meadowsweet Farm. n.d. [1908]
Father Tuck’s Noah 's Ark Panorama With Movable Pictures. [ca. 1900]
Father Tuck's Panorama Fairy Tales. The Sleeping Beauty And Little. Snowdrop [ca. 1900]
Father Tuck's Fairy Stories Panorama. Little red riding Hood, Snow White, and Rose Bud [ca. 1900]
With Father Tuck in Fairyland Panorama [ca. 1910]
Father Tuck‘s Nursery Rhyme Panorama with Movable Pictures [ca. 1910]
Father Tuck's Toy Town Panorama, With Movable Pictures [ca. 1910]
Father Tuck's Panorama, Buttercup Farm [ca. 1910]
? Summer Holidays at Sea "Zomervacantie aan zee" [ ca. 1912] ( We have only seen the German version from which we translated the title "Summer Holidays at Sea" - an obvious Tuck without mention - Hildebrandt, M. (ed.). Zomervacantie aan zee. Amst., Scheltens & Giltay, n.d. (1912), leporello in 4 sections showing 1 large scene, w. 16 insert figures
Crossing The Channel Panorama With Movable Pictures [ca. 1920]
Father Tuck's World's Circus: Panorama With Movable Pictures [ca. 1920]
RAF Fighter Station Scenic Panorama. [1950]
Coronation Procession Panorama with Movable Pictures. [1952]
Cinderella Scenic Panorama Book [1952]
The Busy Seaport Scenic Panorama Book: n.d., [ca. 1952]
Royal Naval Review Scenic Panorama [1952]
Road Travel Scenic Panorama Book [1952]
Our Trains Scenic Panorama Book [1952]
Airport Scenic Panorama Book. n.d. [1955]
Trooping The Colour Scenic Panorama Book. n.d. [1955]
Fun at the Seaside Scenic Panorama Book [c. 1955]
Days in Catland with Louis Wain. New York, Shackman & Co., 1991
Father Tuck’s Express Train Panorama With Movable Pictures. New York, Shackman & Co., 1995
Father Tuck’s Noah 's Ark Panorama. New York, Shackman & Co., 1997
Father Tuck's World's Circus: Panorama with Movable Pictures, Shackman, 1998
Father Tuck’s Alice in Wonderland. New York, Shackman & Co., 2000
With Father Tuck in Fairyland Panorama, Shackman
Rare German Editions:
We have two more panoramas in our collection. They are both in German without a publisher mentioned - only the German trademark "gesetzl
gesch" which translates to "protected by law", indicating that the
design, appearance, application or use of the item in question had been
officially registered. (gesetzlich geschützt is abbreviated gesetzl gesch, gesetzl. gesch., ges. geschützt or ges. gesch)
Dornroschen Sneewittchen Panorama-Buch (English equivalent:
Father Tuck's Panorama Fairy Tales. The Sleeping Beauty and Little Snow Drop)
Auf Dem Lande Panorama-Buch ( English equivalent: Father Tuck's Panorama, Buttercup Farm)
Other notes and references:
From: The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Saturday 16 December 1911, page 6:
Questions? Email us at [email protected]