747 - Bonn, F.

Bonn, F. Theater Picture Book. Four Scenes for Children with Entirely New Sets and Text in Verse. 4th revised edition. Esslingen, J. F. Schreiber, n.d. (ca. 1885). 4° (26 x 34 cm). Four fold-out backdrop illustrations in chromolithography with text in two columns. Original half-linen binding with a color lithographed cover illustration. Breitschwerdt Collection 30 (3rd edition from 1893). Hoppensack 2 (reprint). Klotz 592/44. Laub 278–280. LKJ IV, 92. Stuck-Villa II, 16. Wegehaupt IV, 248. — A rare, lavishly illustrated theater picture book first published in 1878. The charming three-dimensional dioramas, each with five levels, depict “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “The Wise Men from the East,” and “Christmas Eve,” with the story texts appearing in the lower section. - The scene from “Hansel and Gretel” by an anonymous artist first appeared in 1869 in the Schreiber picture book “The Story of Hansel and Gretel, or The Sugar House” (see Wegehaupt IV, 683, 2nd ed. from 1875). According to H. Krahé, the illustrations were redrawn and animated by L. Meggendorfer in 1887 for his pull-tab picture book of the same title (see Katzenheim 118). - “When the panels are opened, a scene consisting of four picture elements arranged one after the other appears within a theatrical frame. In the foreground, as if in an orchestra pit, are children playing music (in the Christmas scene, they are little angels). Below are short texts in dialogue form to be spoken with assigned roles. The fairy tales feature slightly modified text: Little Red Riding Hood does not stray from the right path, and the wolf is annoyed by the well-behaved child” (W. Geisenheyner). - The back cover features a publisher’s advertisement for seven Meggendorfer picture books. - Edges are worn; the covers are heavily dusty and stained; in the “Hansel and Gretel” scene, one of the bear’s paws and Gretel’s left hand are missing; the text has some brown spots; otherwise, it is in good condition.