Kubasta, Vojtech. The Bethlehem of Trebechovice. [Czechoslovakia: Artia, 1967]. First and only edition. Folding pop-up Christmas greeting card with double pop-up scenes. Text in Czech, German, and English. Size folded: 23 × 15 cm; fully extended: 23 × 23 × 15 cm.
Condition: Fine. Clean and unused, with no damage to either of the pop-up tableaux or the original cellophane windows. Includes intact self-mailing flap and printed holiday message: “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”
This scarce holiday card was inspired by a visit to Expo 67 in Montreal, where Vojtech Kubasta viewed the famed nineteenth-century mechanical crèche known as The Bethlehem of Třebechovice. That original nativity, carved by Josef Probošt with two assistants, contains over 2,000 figures and 152 moving components powered by gears. Kubasta’s pop-up tribute captures the complexity and reverence of the original in a compact double pop-up format, reflecting his signature dimensional style and architectural precision.
Only one edition of this card was published. According to WorldCat, it is held by a single institutional library (Broward County Libraries). A highly sought-after collectible among Kubasta’s Christmas-themed works, particularly due to its Expo connection and multilingual presentation.
Collector’s Corner:
The verso of the card provides a brief account:
"The greeting card represents The Bethlehem of Třebechovice, created by Josef Probošt and two assistants. This unique woodcarving from the end of the 19th century is equipped with a mechanism of 152 cog wheels and is composed of 2,033 figures. The nativity scene was displayed at the World Exposition of Montreal in 1967."
Like many of Kubasta’s most collectible nativities, this piece was not reissued and exists in only one known version. The double tableau, intricate die-cuts, and thematic inspiration from Bohemian folk tradition make it stand out even among his Christmas creations.
Reference :
Marian Library, University of Dayton. “Christmas in Color: The Pop-Up Nativities of Vojtěch Kubašta.” On Paper: Nativity Imagery from the Marian Library. Scalar. Accessed July 1, 2025.