Verlag von J. F. Schreiber in Esslingen bei Stuttgart, 1891.
Meggendorfer, Lothar.
Internationaler Circus.
Esslingen: Verlag von J. F. Schreiber, [1891].
Oblong folio (33 x 22.5 cm). Gatefold leporello panorama (33 x 140.5 cm fully extended), comprised of six stiff card panels joined accordion-style with cloth hinges, red cloth spine, and mounted chromolithograph cover illustration. With six double-layered, tab-activated pop-up scenes depicting a grand traveling circus. Pop-ups constructed from precision-cut chromolithographed figures mounted in two tiers. Rear endpaper with printed Schreiber advertisements, consistent with later 19th-century issues. All scenes complete and mechanically functional.
Condition: Good. Structurally sound with all six pull-down scenes present and operable. Several figures have been re-attached or include expert facsimile replacements. Red cloth spine reinforced; moderate handling wear; fourth hinge with 2" split. Minor warping and edgewear commensurate with age. Some scenes show prior tape repairs and glue residue. Colors remain vibrant; the mechanical function remains strong. See restoration notes below.
Detailed Notes on Restoration:
– Pull-down 1: Acrobat’s legs re-attached on reverse.
– Pull-down 2: Loose from backing; tape stains. Clown’s arm and man’s head re-attached; clown’s head and fairy’s feet in facsimile.
– Pull-down 3: Donkey re-glued; jester’s head re-attached; minor paper loss to hoof.
– Pull-down 4: One musician with facsimile head. Red reins original.
– Pull-down 5: Acrobats’ legs re-attached; glue residue and small losses.
– Pull-down 6: Ballerina’s head and feet re-attached; additional figures with re-attached limbs.
Despite these modest restorations, the visual impact and functionality of the panoramic scene remain extraordinary.
Description:
This remarkable panoramic pop-up book unfolds into a semi-circular diorama designed to resemble a bustling circus tent. Composed of six connected panels, the structure opens to reveal a richly detailed three-dimensional scene featuring more than 450 illustrated figures. The cast includes acrobats, aerialists, clowns, jugglers, tightrope walkers, animal trainers, a full orchestra, and a lively audience—all captured with Meggendorfer’s signature humor and expressive artistry. Rather than a narrative, the text is limited to the final panel, which presents a fictional show program that reinforces the theatrical staging of the work.When fully extended, the display measures an impressive six feet in length.
Collector’s Corner:
Ads printed on the rear endpaper are consistent with the earliest known 1887 issue. Collectors and bibliographers are invited to weigh in further on the printing date. Please direct inquiries or scholarly contributions to [email protected].
Internationaler Circus alone went through seven known editions. The edition information and noteworthy observations below come from pages 218 and 220 of the Lothar Meggendorfer: Annotiertes Werkverzeichnis (Edition Comboxx, 2012):
Known Early Editions (Original German Editions):
1887: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin [1st edition]
1887/1891: J. F. Schreiber in Esslingen (noted as “veränderte und erweiterte Ausgabe” – revised and expanded edition, i.e., the version with additional panels)
ca. 1910: Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart [Leporello-style, “6 Stehaufbilder”]
ca. 1915/16: Mentioned in Schreiber’s 1915/16 trade catalog entry under the title Internationaler Zirkus, advertising:
Later Editions and Reprints
1979: Schreiber facsimile reprint. Format: “6 Stehaufbilder in Leporello.” ISBN: 3-480-13161-1
1998: Mini reprint, Esslinger Verlag. ISBN: 3-480-20364-7
International Editions
English: Lothar Meggendorfer’s International Circus
French: Grand Cirque International
Spanish: Gran Circo Internacional
Noteworthy Observations:
The earliest state had six altar-folded leaves, with four mechanical scenes, and blank verso— meaning no printed ads or text on the reverse of the last panel.
Later editions (1891 and likely 1910s) introduced additional panels and structural variations.
The 1915/16 catalog describes the full diorama as 130 cm wide × 45 cm deep × 34 cm tall.
No edition is recorded with more than six scenes, but side-flaps and panel extensions may account for the variation between early and later editions (as noted in rare book listings).
The Schreiber spelling varied between “Circus” and “Zirkus” in catalogs vs. bindings.
The 1998 and 1979 facsimiles are faithful but scaled down
Ads printed on the rear endpaper or final verso appeared in later Schreiber issues, are likely 1891 or later, especially those described as: "veränderte und erweiterte Ausgabe" (revised and expanded edition)
More About Internationaler Circus:
German critics immediately recognized its technical and artistic innovation. As noted by Hildegarde Krahé, a leading scholar on Meggendorfer, the Internationaler Circus is "die überragende Leistung in seinem Gesamtschaffen"—“the outstanding achievement of his entire body of work.” The book marked a turning point in Meggendorfer’s career, demonstrating the pinnacle of his spatial ingenuity and mastery of sequential movement without the need for additional text.
Its popularity led to international editions in English (The International Circus, H. Grevel & Co., ca. 1888), French (Le Cirque International), and Spanish, with each retaining the spectacular format and mechanical design of the original. Beginning in the 1970s, high-quality facsimile editions were issued.
Maurice Sendak, the acclaimed illustrator and passionate collector of historical children’s books, praised International Circus as “one of my finest treasures,” stating:“It is like no other Meggendorfer. When it is all assembled, it is ravishing. The color, excitement and delirium of the circus are all there, and the three-dimensional effect is breathtaking.” This glowing assessment appeared in the 1986 catalog of the exhibition Maurice Sendak’s Books and Toys held at The Pierpont Morgan Library in New York.
In her article “Listening to Lothar Meggendorfer’s Nineteenth-Century Moving Picture Books.”, Amanda M. Brian identifies Internationaler Circus as one of Meggendorfer’s recognized masterpieces, highlighting both its mechanical innovation and economic inaccessibility to working-class families. She writes:“One recognized masterpiece, Internationaler Circus, retailed for seven marks fifty pfennigs. The 1889 panoramic book unfolded to create a miniature six-sided circus tent, while pull-tabs below the human and animal performers set the scene to life. There were four hundred fifty individually drawn people in the audience as well.” (Brian, 2013, 377)
The book stood apart from Meggendorfer’s already sophisticated movable works due to its panoramic structure, crowded theatrical setting, and large-scale mechanics. Yet even his “conventional” movables were priced well beyond the reach of ordinary buyers. Brian cites Waldo H. Hunt, who noted that six marks was equivalent to “a week’s pay for one of Schreiber’s [female] colorists.”Brian further notes that Internationaler Circus alone went through seven known editions, underscoring its popularity and reissuance over time despite its premium cost.
References:
Maurice Sendak, quoted in The Art of the Pop-Up: The Magical World of Three-Dimensional Books, ed. Jean-Charles Trebbi.
Krahé, Hildegarde. Lothar Meggendorfer: Der Meister der beweglichen Bilderbücher. München: Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1981.
Friedrich, Georg & Reinhilde von Katzenheim. Lothar Meggendorfer: Annotiertes Werkverzeichnis. Berlin: Edition Comboxx, 2012, p. 218.
Brian, Amanda M. “Listening to Lothar Meggendorfer’s Nineteenth-Century Moving Picture Books.” The Princeton University Library Chronicle 74, no. 3 (Spring 2013): 366–396. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.25290/prinunivlibrchro.74.3.0366.
Note: Additional photos available upon request. All items are guaranteed original and returnable within 14 days if not delighted.