KRONPRINZCHEN VON KINDERLAND: ein Schattenspiel [The Crown Prince From Kinderland: A Shadow Play]

Intact Shadow Puppet Book

KRONPRINZCHEN VON KINDERLAND: ein Schattenspiel [The Crown Prince From Kinderland: A Shadow Play]

By August Wilhelm Zachariä

1821

First edition of this 19th century do-it-yourself shadow puppet theater, beautifully intact and unused, with 16 articulated puppet figures and two dramatic stage sets.

Very good plus.

Price: $6,000.00

KRONPRINZCHEN VON KINDERLAND: ein Schattenspiel [The Crown Prince From Kinderland: A Shadow Play]

Shadow puppet theaters (also called Ombres Chinoises, due to their origin in China) enjoyed a popularity boom in Europe beginning in the late 18th century. Initially an adult entertainment, by the late 19th century shadow puppet theaters had migrated home as children's toys. Numerous examples can be found from the 1880s and '90s, but far fewer remain of those published in the first quarter of the century. KRONPRINZCHEN VON KINDERLAND is one such survival.
The vibrant orange original wrapper of this title was apparently meant to be temporary, as indicated by a set of instructions to the bookbinder on the verso of the title page: they advise the binder not to include the plates, but have them mounted on card to be more sturdy when cut out, and to mount the stage sets to wood. The text includes an introduction and a script for children to act out, a comedic story of a hapless prince (which occasionally draws on stereotypes for humor). The script is followed by rather complex assembly instructions for the puppets themselves, most with multiple points of articulation. This level of engineering is perhaps unsurprising given Zachariä's interest in the development of human-powered flying machines.
KRONPRINZCHEN VON KINDERLAND is rare in any condition: OCLC locates only three holdings, with none in the US. In this unassembled state, it offers an interesting perspective on the degree of post-printing labor required to set up a paper theater.

The Object

Leipzig: Carl Cnobloch, 1821. Octavo. 7.5'' x 4.25''. Original orange wrappers. Illustrated with all nine folding plates in black and white: seven plates featuring a total of 16 uncut puppet figures, and two plates featuring large stage sets. Uncut and largely unopened. xvi, 96 pages, collated complete. Wrappers with light edgewear; hinges expertly repaired. Leaves with mild toning and scattered faint foxing. Some plates with light offsetting. Sound and complete.

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 August Wilhelm Zachariä

More in Early Childrens (pre-1900) Games & Novelties