Rare early 20th-century German-made children's animal picture book from the firm of Albin Matthäi, with embedded squeezable pressure sensors (all still functional) that produce the characteristic utterance of each beast.
Very good.
Price: $750.00
"Although the term 'speaking book' was furthermore used for the product, the simple sounds have nothing to do with speech; actually it is a 'screeching book'." — Hoffmann
The ten illustrations, each in a bold and simplified Cecil Aldin-esque style, show animals alone or with their own kind. No human figures are visible, but the marks of human domination are everywhere: the horse in his harness, the goat with her bell, the donkey heavily burdened with baggage, the cow fenced in, and even the deer alert and uneasy for the sound of hunters.
Two German registration and patent numbers, D.R.G.M [Deutsches Reichgsgebrauchsmuster] No. 949318 and D.R.P. [Deutsches Reichspatent] 4417292, are printed on the front cover and identify the book as the work of manufacturer Albin Matthäi, whose company produced talking picture books, dolls, and toys with his innovative embedded sound devices beginning in 1928. Hahn & Hahn note a company invoice from 1933 in which the company is named as "AMA Albin Matthäi" and its specialty as the export of talking picture books. Surviving examples are very scarce and generally un- or incompletely identified due to the lack of publisher's imprint. An important example from a major innovator in 20th century European sound picture books.
Read more: Hoffmann, "Voices for Toys"; Hahn & Hahn, Sonneberger Spielzeug - Made in Judenbach: 300 Jahre Spielzeugherstellung.
[Judenbach]: [AMA Albin Matthäi], [circa 1930]. 6'' x 7.5''. Original stiff cardstock leaves in wooden slot spine reinforced with later blue cloth tape. [10] pages, illustrated in color, with embedded working squeeze sensors in each leaf. Several small pinholes and a few larger punch holes to leaves. Moderate creasing throughout, with unobtrusive repairs to several closed tears.
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