Original Photo Album from Animation Productions

Early Record Of Animation History And Production

Original Photo Album from Animation Productions

By George Pal

[circa 1932]

Personal photo album of several commercial animation projects undertaken by the Academy Award-winning animator, producer, and director before emigrating to the United States.

Fine.

Price: $8,500.00

Original Photo Album from Animation Productions

Pal emigrated from his native Hungary in 1939 and went on to a successful and innovative Hollywood career. He is perhaps best remembered as the producer of several science fiction and fantasy films in the 1950s, including WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE and THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953). He himself directed TOM THUMB (1958), THE TIME MACHINE (1960) and THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM (1962).
But before his emigration, he had a varied and successful career in Europe, where he developed the "Puppetoon" method. "Puppetoons" are a form of replacement animation in which a series of different hand-carved wooden puppets (or puppet parts) are substituted in each frame, rather than manipulating a single puppet, as in most stop-motion animation. It was for this technique he won an honorary Oscar in 1943 and these intricate, time consuming techniques are on prominent display here.
The majority of the photographs appear to be production images and action stills from MIDNIGHT (1932), an early Pal advertising effort featuring dancing cigarettes, widely recognized as the first Puppetoon animation. A photograph titled "Heiraten und nicht verzweifeln" ("Spouses do not despair.") precedes 16 photos of a different (though likely equally as early) household cleaning product film. A rich and handsome album, documenting at least several commercial animation projects undertaken by Pal before his emigration to the US, and likely produced for showcasing Pal's early advertising shorts to perspective clients.

The Object

[Hungary]: n.p, [circa 1932]. 9.75'' x 11.5''. Original screw-bound linen boards. Pal's bookplate to front free end-paper and his ownership stamp to inside front and back covers. Containing 68 original black-and-white photos adhesive-mounted rectos only to 39 leaves, plus some related ephemera. Apparently complete. Binding lacking one screw, otherwise neat and clean.

The Fine Print

We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.

We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.

All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Priority. International orders over $500 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.

International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.

We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.

If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.

Add to Cart Ask a Question

More by George Pal