Het Boek Met Verrassingen
By Thérèse Hoven
Published in 1897 by L.J. Veen in Amsterdam (dated via Brinkman’s catalog)
This charming Dutch movable book includes 12 pages and features six colored lithographic plates with parts that move to reveal surprising scene changes. Each movable is paired with a short, playful story. Among them: Piet disturbs a bird’s nest and is carried off by the angry birds; a baker’s apprentice loses his pastries while chatting idly; mischievous children provoke an elephant and are promptly thrown from a tree; a woman in a balloon loses her hat to the wind; a man stands atop a barrel of gunpowder just before it explodes; and a group of monkeys are hilariously launched by a giraffe.
Condition
Missing original boards. Internal pages and movables are in excellent condition. No missing pieces. Please see photos for full details.
Collector’s Corner
This rare movable book was published by L.J. Veen, a respected Dutch publishing house established in 1887 by Lambertus Jacobus Veen in Amsterdam. Under his direction, the firm gained recognition for producing literary works with quality printing and thoughtful design. After Veen’s death in 1919, the publishing house continued to evolve, undergoing several mergers throughout the 20th century. In 2001, it merged with Bosch & Keuning to form Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK), marking a major milestone in Dutch publishing history.
The author, Thérèse Elisabeth Hoven (1860–1941), was one of the Netherlands’ most prolific female writers. She produced over a hundred works, including novels, plays, and stories for children. In addition to her literary output, she was the editor-in-chief of De Hollandsche Lelie, a leading women’s weekly, and a vocal advocate for women’s rights and education. Her work combined social conscience with storytelling, which is evident in this delightfully moral and mischievous volume.
References
Wikipedia. “Veen Bosch & Keuning.”
Wikidata. “Lambertus Jacobus Veen.”
AustLit. “L.J. Veen Klassiek.”
Denger, Marijke. “Thérèse Hoven (Adinda).” Literatuurgeschiedenis.
Damescompartiment profile on Thérèse Hoven
Van de Loo, Vilan. Future through tradition. 125 years of Tesselschade-Arbeid Adelt. Zutphen, 1996. pp. 59–60.