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Daniel Crouch Rare Books
Jean-Pierre Bres
Le Livre-Joujou.
description
The first issue, printed by Gaspard Doyen. Including a pull-tab mechanism, ‘Le Livre-Joujou’ is considered one of the first true “moveable” books, only preceded by the so-called “Beidermeiers”, and similar, greetings cards of the early 1800s.
In his own introduction, Bres writes: “In order for this book to amuse you more, I wanted it to offer you some new features in the drawings contained therein”, and explains that he has invented a new mechanism by which scenes from a story progressed and transformed, before our very eyes. The plates are based on those found in earlier “toy-books” by Pintard, ‘Le petit fablier pittoresque ou fables mises en action’ (1817), and Lambert, ‘Le jeu des fables, ou Fables de La ete’ (1819), and tell the story of King Sélimour, who abandons his children, Prince Lindor and Princess Sérine, to go to war, leaving them to the mercy of their evil uncle and magician Grolino. The moveable plates recreate the trials and triumphs of the children.
Jean Pierre Brès (1782 - 1832) is credited with inventing "polyoptic pictures", later referred to as "myrioramas", which are a series of illustrated cards that can be rearranged to form alternative landscapes. He was originally from Limoges, and studied medicine as a student. He wrote a number of interesting scientific papers, including one on the association of sound and colour, and also Romantic poetry, which is reflected in his ‘Livre-Joujou’, one of many books he created for a juvenile audience.
[WITH]: BRES, Jean-Pierre. ‘Le Livre-Joujou’. Paris, Chez Louis Janet, Librairie, Rue Saint-Jacques, No. 59, [1837]. Small quarto (140 by 150mm). Lithographed title-page, additional title-page, and 12 plates with pull-down tabs and moveable parts, with contemporary hand-colour in full; modern morocco backed, marbled paper boards; preserved in modern maroon cloth clamshell box. First edition, second issue, printed by “Imprimerie de Ducessois”.
[AND]: TREMADEURE, Mlle. S.U. ‘Le Talisman. Histoire Amusante et Morale,...’ Paris, Mallez Aine, Editeur, [c.1875]. Small octavo (140 by 90mm). Lithographed title-page, additional engraved title-page and eight plates, each with additional flaps, and a moveable figurine slotted into the first plate; original publisher’s scarlet cloth, gilt, all edges gilt; preserved in modern maroon cloth clamshell box.
Rare: each title is exceptionally rare, with only a handful of examples known of each.
[WITH]: A further significant collection of books with moveable figurines that can be moved between different “slots” throughout. Commonly referred to as “slotties”.
In his own introduction, Bres writes: “In order for this book to amuse you more, I wanted it to offer you some new features in the drawings contained therein”, and explains that he has invented a new mechanism by which scenes from a story progressed and transformed, before our very eyes. The plates are based on those found in earlier “toy-books” by Pintard, ‘Le petit fablier pittoresque ou fables mises en action’ (1817), and Lambert, ‘Le jeu des fables, ou Fables de La ete’ (1819), and tell the story of King Sélimour, who abandons his children, Prince Lindor and Princess Sérine, to go to war, leaving them to the mercy of their evil uncle and magician Grolino. The moveable plates recreate the trials and triumphs of the children.
Jean Pierre Brès (1782 - 1832) is credited with inventing "polyoptic pictures", later referred to as "myrioramas", which are a series of illustrated cards that can be rearranged to form alternative landscapes. He was originally from Limoges, and studied medicine as a student. He wrote a number of interesting scientific papers, including one on the association of sound and colour, and also Romantic poetry, which is reflected in his ‘Livre-Joujou’, one of many books he created for a juvenile audience.
[WITH]: BRES, Jean-Pierre. ‘Le Livre-Joujou’. Paris, Chez Louis Janet, Librairie, Rue Saint-Jacques, No. 59, [1837]. Small quarto (140 by 150mm). Lithographed title-page, additional title-page, and 12 plates with pull-down tabs and moveable parts, with contemporary hand-colour in full; modern morocco backed, marbled paper boards; preserved in modern maroon cloth clamshell box. First edition, second issue, printed by “Imprimerie de Ducessois”.
[AND]: TREMADEURE, Mlle. S.U. ‘Le Talisman. Histoire Amusante et Morale,...’ Paris, Mallez Aine, Editeur, [c.1875]. Small octavo (140 by 90mm). Lithographed title-page, additional engraved title-page and eight plates, each with additional flaps, and a moveable figurine slotted into the first plate; original publisher’s scarlet cloth, gilt, all edges gilt; preserved in modern maroon cloth clamshell box.
Rare: each title is exceptionally rare, with only a handful of examples known of each.
[WITH]: A further significant collection of books with moveable figurines that can be moved between different “slots” throughout. Commonly referred to as “slotties”.
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