Paris: Nouvelle Librairie de la Jeunesse, (1890). Small quarto. (14)pp., including paste-down endpapers. A stencil-colored cut-figure book, with each page cut into three sections so that one can make numerous combinations of the head, body, and legs of "Mon Oncle Gaspard." The Gaspards range in profession and character, from a.... More
(N.p. c. 1860). Octavo. Single-sheet valentine. This "cobweb"-style valentine was so-named for its intricate lacework and circular central device, which, in this instance, is decorated with flowers. This circular element pulls out, creating a delicate, detailed peep show labeled, "Road to Happiness," which depicts two lovers sitting on a bench... More
Rotterdam: D. Bolle, (1917). Small quarto. (10)pp. Four movable color plates, plus black & white illustrations throughout. The movable plates provide animated illustration to four different stories among the ten in the book, and depict Sambo facing a lion, a young Indian boy cradled in the trunk of an elephant... More
Amsterdam: (n.d.). Small octavo. (15)pp. With eight full-page illustrations, printed in orange and black. At the back of the volume are a head and two legs set to rotate on brass rivets; when unfolded, they align with the torso on the upper cover to create the illusion of a full... More
London: C. Arthur Pearson Limited, (c. 1900). Small quarto. (12)pp. Six full-page color illustrations, each of which is folded at the top; when unfolded, the scene changes to reveal a surprise. For example, a boy reaching for a nest is suddenly attacked by birds, hunters in a tree are hosed... More
London: W. Warrington, 1836. Oblong 24mo. 24pp. Illustrated with nine leaves of engraved plates, three of which fold out, and one which has an overlay showing workers within the tunnel. An account of the construction of the Thames tunnel, the first known tunnel to have successfully been built underneath a.... More
Paris: Capendu, A., (c. 1900). Oblong octavo. (12)pp. Illustrated with six movable color images. These appear opposite poetic retellings of such familiar La Fontaine stories as "Le Corbeau et le Renard" ("The Dove and the Fox") and "La Cigale et la Fourmie" ("The Cicada and the Ant"). The illustrations move... More
London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, (1912). Quarto. (13)pp. Six full-page color plates, each of which depicts anthropomorphized animals, accompaned by lyricized fables printed on the opposing page. The fables included are "The Fox and the Stork," "The Wolf and the Lamb," "The City Rat and the Country Rat," "The... More
(N.p. n.d.). Small quarto. (11)pp. Five movable color illustrations, along with various black & white images throughout. The movable images function through pull-tabs at the bottom of each page. They depict the titular anthropomorphic wolf planning to trick a family of goats, clambering down the chimney of their home, and... More
Amsterdam: Cohen Zonen, (n.d.). Octavo. (10)pp. Four full color movable images, and black & white illustrations throughout. The movables illustrate humans and animals taking part in charming circus scenes: monkeys clamber about a ladder, an elephant balances a clown upon its trunk, another well-dressed elephant plays the tuba in front... More
London: Dean & Son, (1857). Small octavo. (9)ff. A very unusual and humorous children's book, with seven movable pages. On each page is a cut-out character, lithographed and hand-colored, standing against a wall. The figure may be moved aside by means of a tab, exposing the revealing shadow he has... More
Esslingen: J. F. Schreiber, (n.d.). Small quarto. (7)ff. Six full-color movable images. For each, the upper half may be flipped downward to reveal the second half of the scene. Each is titled at the top and captioned by a four-line poem at the bottom. Mischievous children adorn each image. Their... More
London: Dean & Son, (n.d.). Small quarto. 8ff., printed one side only. Eight pages with full hand-colored images—sometimes more than one to a page—all of which bear movable features. These are manipulated through paper tabs toward the bottom of the illustration. Pulling a tab back and forth causes Mother Hubbard's... More
London: Dean & Son, (1859). Small quarto. (8)ff. Eight hand-colored engravings, all with movable parts. These movable images are operated through paper tabs and show the titular old woman with a host of animals as she tries to tame her newly purchased pig. The text of the story lies below... More
London: Dean & Son, (1879). 12mo. 12pp. Six full-color movable plates. The corners of each plate may be flipped up or down in order to change that portion of the image. In one illustration, a strongman holds acrobats on his arms, but flipping the corners show him balancing them on... More
Paris: Dean & Son / A. Capendu, (n.d.). Small quarto. (8)pp. Contains four full-color movable illustrations, with other whimsical circus imagery throughout the accompanying text. The movable images show clowns balancing on their heads, performing tricks with dogs, and riding donkeys. Copyrighted by Dean & Son, the fascinating illustrations dovetail... More
(N.p. c. 1890). 24mo. (56)pp; (42)pp. With copious illustrations in both color and monochrome. Blow books are classic magic tricks, most popular through the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. The magician presents the book and riffles through it, showing a set of like illustrations. Then with the book closed, he or... More
Leiden: P. J. Trap, (1864). Small quarto. (8)ff. Eight hand-colored lithographed illustrations, each with moving parts operated by tabs. The images show a variety of spectacles, from a monkey playing the violin, to children riding an elephant, to two different escapades of the French tightrope walker, Charles Blondin. Below each... More
Paris: Capendu, A., (n.d.). Quarto. (6)ff. Six color engravings, all with movable elements. The illustrations are each titled and, along with the accompanying text below each plate, show various aspects of life in Beijing as envisioned by the French publisher. These include scenes of music and dancing, family life, and... More
Berlin: (Carl Schauer, c. 1895). Small quarto. (8)pp. Four full-page color plates with volvelles. Each plate depicts a particular scene—"Das Theater," "Die Menagerie," "Der Bildermann," and "Das karussel"—which is described in lyric verse on the facing page. The turning mechanisms then change a certain portion of the image. For example... More
Kansas: 1898-1899. Oblong octavo. (19)ff. A double accordion-fold album of thirty-one woven paper designs in brown and coral. Included in this group are two weavings with movable elements, and one in the form of a frame with an image in the center. These examples of a popular kindergarten activity were... More
Amsterdam: G. Theod. Bom. (1874). 12mo. (20)pp. Six movable lithographs. Each illustration operates through a flap, which, when flipped up or down, changes the image. In one, a soldier in the midst of battle changes to a cavalryman on horseback, while in another a man goes from eating a meal... More
NY: Bouillon-Sanders & Chopp, (1926). Quarto. (16)pp. Illustrated throughout in color and black & white, and in a bright orange binding featuring the main character, Willie, with fully movable arms. A "Willie Wait a Minute," who is always postponing his responsibilities to play just a minute longer, is able to... More
Guildford: Circle Press, 1986. Small folio. (36)pp., french-fold. From an edition of 80 copies, this is one of 65 comprising the regular edition. Signed by the illustrator, Ronald King, and the poet, Roy Fisher. Illustrated in color with numerous photo-collage vignettes, seven tableaux from drawings, and twelve movable puppet designs... More
Paris: Capendu, A., (n.d.). Small quarto. (14)pp. Six full-page color plates with movable elements, plus black & white illustrations scattered throughout the text. The movable images are operated through tabs, which bring to life a band of young boys playing tricks on a giant ogre, and the ogre at the... More
