In Wonderland and What is to be Seen There. A Book of Revolving Pictures – Nister, Ernest et al

A very good copy of this scarce movable book, consisting of nine poems and eight revolving illustrations featuring kittens, puppies, farm animals and children at play. Poems include: In Wonderland, Hide-and-Seek, Three Little Kittens, Snowflakes and Roseleaves, Trit! Trot!, All Aboard, Summer and Winter, Spot, and Afternoon Tea. Considered one of the greatest makers of movable books, Ernest Nister was based in Nuremburg, a centre for toy making in the late nineteenth century, and had offices in London as well. Between 1891 and 1900, the firm produced many children’s books and ephemeral items of superior quality in both illustration and printing. “Nister’s major contribution to the field was a large number of ‘dissolving’ picture books—developing further the rather rudimentary items produced by Dean—in which an illustration changed into a completely different scene at the pull of a tab… A good deal of interest in movables in America at the turn of the century was generated by the New York firm of E. P. Dutton, who worked in conjunction with Ernest Nister to promote and sell his titles on their side of the Atlantic… Just as in Europe, these books worked their magic on American children, and today they are also much sought after and collected.”—Haining. 4to [11″ x 10.5”], brown cloth spine with paper covered boards. [19] pp., numerous b&w illus., 8 volvelles with ribbon pulls and chromolithographic illustrations. CONDITION: Very good, some light wear to the boards and a small snag to the cloth spine. Some signs of tape having been removed from the gutters of a few pages and some minor tissue repairs. A few spots of light foxing. Ribbons to all volvelles intact. The paper cap covering the wire fixing pin of the revolving mechanism is missing on five of the eight volvells. Included is various correspondence with the South African National Gallery regarding the loan of this book for an exhibition of Victorian Children’s Books in 1984.

Publisher: Ernest Nister; New York: E. P. Dutton & Co.
Date Published: 1896
Publication Place: London
First Edition: Yes

Condition: Very good
Binding: Hardcover

Dimensions: 28 x 27cm