Rare Spanish Movable Book En Automovil ca 1914 Unrecorded Spanish Language Mechanical Book Trip to the Moon Variant

En Automovil (Movable Book)
Rare Spanish edition of “A Trip to the Moon”
En Automovil Libro movil antiguo

[No publisher, no place, ca. 1914]. 4to (280 x 210 mm / 11 x 8 1/4 inches).
[10] pp., including 6 sepia-toned letterpress text pages and 4 full-color chromolithographed tab-operated movable plates.
While the English and French editions contained five movable plates, this Spanish-language version was issued with four (as published), indicating a variant or simplified production for a Spanish-speaking market

A highly unusual and unrecorded Spanish-language version of this imaginative lunar voyage tale, known in French as Voyage Extraordinaire de Mr. Tramontane and in English as A Trip to the Moon. While the French edition contained five movable plates, this Spanish-language version includes four and was issued without a title page or publisher’s imprint, suggesting a small or localized production.

Movable books issued in the Spanish language prior to 1930 are exceptionally scarce. Unlike Germany, England, and France—where mechanical book production was well established—no comparable tradition developed in the Spanish-speaking world during this period. Spanish-language movable books were typically produced only in limited runs, often as localized or export adaptations of established European titles. As a result, surviving examples are rarely encountered in the trade and remain notably underrepresented in institutional collections and bibliographies.

The present example is of particular importance in that the text is fully printed in Spanish rather than applied as later overlays, indicating intentional production for a Spanish-speaking audience. The absence of publisher information, title page, and any bibliographic record further supports the likelihood of a small and possibly experimental print run.

The chromolithographed mechanical scenes are operated by pull-tabs, each revealing a transformation integral to the narrative’s whimsical progression. The illustrations reflect the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century fascination with technological progress, combining early automotive imagery with elements of fantasy in a manner strongly influenced by the imaginative travel literature of the period.

An important and seldom-seen survival from the early era of mechanical children’s publishing, and a rare example of the adaptation of complex movable book formats for a Spanish-speaking readership.

References and Comparative Editions

The French edition was published by A. Capendu of Paris—while the English-language adaptations were issued by L.W. Walter Co. of Chicago and, in Britain, by Browne & Browne of Newcastle Upon Tyne.. While these French and English versions are occasionally recorded, Spanish-language examples are rarely documented. No standard bibliographic reference has been identified for En Automovil, and no institutional holdings have been located, suggesting this may represent an unrecorded or minimally documented Spanish-language variant.

Condition:
A very good, complete copy in remarkable condition for a fragile early 20th-century movable book. All four movable plates are present and fully functional, with no loss or repair, and the interactive mechanisms remain in excellent working order. Minor edge wear to the binding, and two small closed tears to the edge of one movable plate, neither affecting the action of the movable parts. Original pictorial covers still attached and binding secure. A neat early ownership inscription appears on the front pastedown: “Grandma Bruner.” No writing or coloring to the contents. Please refer to the accompanying photographs for a detailed view of the condition.

Collector’s Corner

This exceedingly scarce Spanish-language movable book, En Automovil, represents a rare and likely unrecorded variant of a remarkable early 20th-century imaginative travel narrative issued in multiple languages. It recounts the whimsical lunar voyage of Mr. Tramontane and Mr. Giggins in a grand, turn-of-the-century motorcar, reflecting the widespread cultural fascination with technological progress and fantastical exploration during the period.

Unlike the French and English editions, this Spanish version omits a title page, publisher’s imprint, and one of the movable plates, distinguishing it as a localized adaptation of exceptional rarity. Such variations strongly suggest production outside standard publishing channels or in a limited run intended for a specific Spanish-speaking market.

Spanish-language movable books from the early twentieth century are rarely encountered. Their scarcity reflects both limited production and low survival rates, as these works were often heavily used and seldom preserved. In contrast to the well-documented traditions of Germany, England, and France, Spanish examples remain largely absent from standard bibliographies and institutional collections.

That scarcity is underscored by the 2011 sale of the French edition by K&K Auctions, who noted: “Not in the relevant children book bibliographies, not in Quérard and Monod. No copy in KVK. No copy on the German and English auction market over the past 50 years. Rare.” To date, no bibliographic references or institutional holdings have been identified for this Spanish-language edition.

This copy includes a charming period inscription from “Grandma Bruner” on the front pastedown, providing a tangible connection to its early twentieth-century history. Its survival, with all interactive elements present and fully operational, is a remarkable testament to the durability and cross-cultural appeal of mechanical children’s books in the age of early motorcars and imaginative space travel.

References:

French edition: Voyage Extraordinaire de Mr. Tramontane
English editions: A Trip to the Moon, L.W. Walter Co. (Chicago); Browne & Browne (Newcastle Upon Tyne)
K&K Auctions, 2011: Catalog note on French edition
No listings located in KVK, Monod, Quérard, or standard bibliographies of children’s movable books