Kubasta, Vojtech. Slovenske hrady a zamky. Volume 2. Illustrated by Vojtech Kubasta. Text by Valeria Parikova. Prague: Orbis, 1972. First edition. Oblong octavo (21 x 10.5 cm). Original pictorial wrappers. [10] pp. Five double-page pop-up spreads. Text in Slovak.
Condition: Very Fine. All pop-ups complete, bright, and fully functional. Covers clean and sharp with tight spine. Possibly the rarest Kubasta pop-up book in our collection.
Volume 2 continues the series with five additional pop-up castle spreads: Trencin, Bojnice, Zvolen, Betliar, and Topolcianky. Each is uniquely rendered in Kubasta’s dimensional style with layered architecture, scenic backdrops, and intricate construction. The format matches Volume 1, offering a unified collectible set across both volumes.
Collector’s Corner:
The Czechoslovakia of Kubasta’s time has since become the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Together, these nations are home to over 2,400 castles, palaces, and manor houses—a legacy of royal power, shifting borders, and frequent war. Kubasta’s two-volume Slovenske hrady a zamky series celebrates this architectural heritage with a uniquely Slovak focus.
A comparable series, Vychodoceske hrady a zamky (East Bohemian Castles and Palaces), was issued in 1968 with art by Jiri Skopek. While both use the pop-up format, Kubasta’s 1972 Slovak series reflects Kubasta's signature techniques: layered die-cuts, scenic depth, and printed signature. These volumes mark a high point in his mature style of paper engineering.
Referenced by:
Movable Stationary, Volume 24, Number 2 (May 2016), article by Ulrich Tietz, p. 3