"OMBRES CHINOISES" - SHADOW THEATRE
French, circa 1830
An original, beautifully illustrated cardboard box containing a hand-coloured, fold-out theatre, showing the stage, the balconies and the orchestra pit with the orchestra. The back panel can accommodate 20 different black-and-white transparent silhouette figures, each provided with a title. There are also two benches with spectators, a mother and daughter seen from behind, and a lady with refreshments. The box a little soild and worn. Contents in excellent condition.
19,7 x 13 x 3 cm
PAPER TOYS
SOLDcontact me
"CHINESE COLOUR AND ARCHITECTURAL PLAY"
G.W. Faber, German, circa 1850
Hand-coloured paper on a wooden sliding lid featuring an image of Chinese people playing the game, surrounded by floral tendrils, geometric shapes and the title in three languages. The box contains various coloured wooden tiles. Some are missing and have been replaced.
17 x 17 x 1,5 cmSOLD contact me
A VERY EARLY PAPER MARKET
German, circa 1800
Hand-painted paper market stalls, vendors and visitors. The five market stalls sell trousers, hats and caps, textiles, stockings and brushes. The respective vendors are also present at these stalls, standing or seated on a chair. There are also merchants without stalls. Furthermore, there are three musicians and a dancing couple. Some wooden bases have been replaced. In oval shaped wooden box with illegible text.
Market stalls 12,5 cm highSOLDcontact me
"THE ARTIFICIAL HORSE"
Probably by H.F. Müller, Wien, circa 1820
Original green paper slipcase with a hand-coloured illustration of a horse and its trainer and the title in three languages. Also bearing the maker’s monogram (?). Inside the cover is a fold-out sheet featuring the same horse and his trainer. The horse can be depicted in various positions; the small numbers indicate how his legs and head should be positioned. Also includes instructions in German and French.
26 x 18 cmSOLD contact me
A CIRCUS BLOCK PUZZLE
French, circa 188o
Original paper covered wooden box contains twenty paper covered wooden blocks forming illustrations of circus scenes. All the puzzle pieces depict the circus ring with clowns and performing animals, including various dogs, monkeys and goats, with the audience in the background. Remnants of two sample leaves are present. Some wear.
24 x 19 x 5,5 cm€ 200contact me
EARLY TANGRAM SET
German, circa 1830
A blue pasteboard case contains another folder in which seven satinwood tiles and 18 illustrated guide cards showing 36 hand coloured pictorial figures, animals and buildings in detail, some of which are quite out of the ordinary. The first figure looks like something out of a science fiction film, the second one looks like a devil in an inkwell. Others are pretty imaginative as well. Toning and light staining to paper.
12,5 x 8,5 x 1 cmSOLDcontact me
A BIEDERMEIER GREETING CARD
German, circa 1835
Original hand coloured envelop containing a three-fold leaflet with images of a baby, a couple and an old couple, with accompanying German texts "That is how we were – That is how we are – That is how old we wish to become". On the sleeve the text: "gros und klein soll lustig sein"(young and old should be fun). Showing signs of age, wear and tear.
7 x 5 cmRESERVEDcontact me
A BOXED SET OF SILBERMAN STRASSBOURG PAPER SOLDIERS
French, 19th Century
33 soldiers colour printed, backed and mounted on wooden strips. In (slightly damaged) cardboard box labeled"Artillerie de la Garde Impériale". Slight creasing en some missing parts.
11,5 cm high€ 140 contact me
"PROPHETIC INDEX AND PATH TO MATRIMONY"
Published by J. A. Reeves, Dartford, circa 1850
Hand coloured engraving on octagonal front card with instructions on rear card and a rotating "index" disc between. The number is set and the church door opens to find fortune.
25 x 24 cm€ 725 contact me
"THE LOTTERY IN CLASSES"
German, circa 1850
Original paper covered wooden box with sliding lid on which an illustration of people in a garden and the title in German, English and French. Contains 43 paper covered wooden rods with texts written on it (the lottery tickets), 50 text cards and instructions. Lid of the box darkened.
17,5 x 15 x 6 cm€ 150 contact me
"ILLUSTRATIONS OF ANIMALS ON CUBES"
English, circa 1835
Original wooden box with sliding lid on which a beautiful paper illustration of wild animals and the title. Contains twelve paper covered wooden blocks forming illustrations of English birds contrary to what the image on the lid may suggest. One side of a cube lacks its paper. Inscribed at reverse lid " ... 1839..." and impressed ‘J. Arnold - London Bridge.
18,5 x 14,5 x 5,5 cm€ 260 contact me
"MOSAIK No.3"
German, circa 1880
Original wooden box with sliding lid on which a paper illustration of children playing the game and the title. Contains thin coloured wooden mosaic tiles and a cardboard example. Lacking three pieces.
14,5 x 13 x 1,7 cm€ 80 contact me-
"ÉDUCATION DE LA POUPÉE" ornée de jolies gravures
Alexis Eymery, Paris 1822, author Sophie de Renneville
In-8 oblong size booklet with 76 pages. Natural signs of ageing, a single tear, stained, but with nine beautifully coloured two-part engravings depicting a lesson on one side and a scene from everyday life with a doll on the other, a frontispiece and an illustration on the title page. In leather binding with title on spine. A very rare book; another is in the New York Library, but in this copy the pictures are not coloured. Also one black and white copy for sale at abebooks.it.
20 x 12 x 1,5 cm€ 550 contact me 
"DAS QUODLIBET"
German, circa 1850
Original paper over wooden box with illustration on the sliding lid of a large number of objects that appear in the game and the title in German, French and English. Consisting of 31 (of 32) wood engraved cards, corresponding with 32 handcoloured wood engraved plates, cut in four triangular pieces and laid down on 64 wooden pieces. A magic trick that appears to enable one to read minds and a puzzle combined. The lid has been restored and is slightly curved.
22,5 x 22,5 x 2 cmSOLDcontact me-
"ANO KATHO or the acrobates in the glass box"
German, circa 1890
A small paper covered case trimmed with Dresdner pappe with a glass window, containing figures and objects that move when a leather cushion is rubbed over the glass. Instructions on the back in English, German and French. Without a leather cushion. See "archives for a moving example that I sold earlier (image 307).
13,5 x 19 x 4 cm€ 340contact me 
VERY RARE BERTHAUD "LE QUADRILLE DES ENFANTS"
Edition de Hollande. Soignée et corrigée par feu D. de Graaff, Insiteur à Gorcum; d'apres la nouvelle Edition refondue, abrégé et perfectionnée à leur usage, avec une Instruction sur la manière de servir des Fiches (des figures) et du Livre. Par M. Alexandre, Professeur de l'Ecole Royale Militaire. Gorcum, J. van der Wal, 1834. 7th Dutch edition. In original box. 15 x 4 x 10 cm. Inside 84 bone cards, 20 painted yellow, 20 red, 20 blue and 24 left blank. They contain a printed label on both sides, one with a hand-coloured. engraved illustration and the other with 2 or 3 sets of letters.PRICE ON
REQUEST contact me-
A SMALL BOARD GAME
French, circa 1850
Foldable hand-coloured board. Jeu de l'Oie-like game but only going
up to number 50.
27,5 x 22 cm€ 100contact me 
A GAME OF BESIEGING
German, circa 1830
The four panel hand-coloured game board folds in original paper covered slipcase which is decorated with a hand colored lithographed image of an army heading into battle and the name of the game in German and French.
16 x 17,4 x 0,7 cm€ 250contact me
AN ENGRAVING OF A PLAYGROUND
European, circa 1800
The illustration shows children stilt-walking, swinging, crossbow shooting, kite flying, skittles, hooping and hobbyhorse riding.
Framed in passe-partout and behind glass.
10 x 7,5 cm€ 120contact me
A FRENCH GAME BOX
Coqueret éditeur and Destouches lith. Paris, circa 1860
Original paper over wooden box with a coloured lithograph on the lid showing children playing games from the box. These include wooden dominoes, skittles with cloth ball, spinning tops, yo-yo, bilboquet, a paper checkerboard and checkers.
31 x 21 x 6 cm€ 260contact me
"JEU DE L'OIE RENOUVELÉ PAR LES GRECS"
Watilliaux edit, H. Jannin, Paris, circa 1875
Four sheets mounted on red strong board, cloth hinges. Coloured lithograph. Depicting children playing in a "Comtesse de Ségur"
setting. The corners are decorated with cartouches showing a game
of skittles, a game of pelota, lawn-tennis and pistol shooting. In the centre the rules of the game.
47 x 38 cm€ 250contact me-
A LOTERY GAME
Dutch, circa 1860
Original marbled paper covered box containing seven inner boxes,
each labeled in pen with contents; a set of 60 wood engraved picture cards, a set of 60 descirption cards and five sets of Klasse cards. Each
set of cards comes in their own case.
Box 13 x 8,7 x 5,7 cm€ 550contact me 
A BELL AND HAMER GAME
Dutch, circa 1840
Original marbled cardboard box containing five hand colored
engraved cards and a complete set of eight black dice. The cover
reads "HAMER" and "SCHIMMEL-SPEL" and has an illustration
of two blacksmiths at work. Box slightly damaged.
13,5 x 8,5 x 1,2 cm€ 125contact me
AN EDUCATIONAL JIGSAW PUZZLE
N. Carpenter, London, ca.1850
"The comparative size of forty birds, from the Ostrich to the
Humming Bird". With hand colored example, written description,
in contemporary wooden box.€ 220contact me
"PARQUET IN COLOURS"
German, circa 1870
Original paper covered wooden box with sliding lid, containing
coloured wooden triangular segments, complete. On the lid the
name of the game in three languages and a lithographed illustration
of two girls, one holding a doll. Small piece of paper on the box
restored.
20 x 20 x 1,6 cm€ 120contact me
"LES TOILETTES DU BÉBÉ" BOXED PAPER DOLL
French, Saussine, edit. B. Coudert and lith. Jannin, circa 1865
Original pasteboard box, with lithographed cover depicting a scene
of five children, mother and nanny playing with paper dolls, labeled
"Les Toilettes du Bébé". Containing two double-sided paper dolls,
ten double-sided hand-colored costumes, two wigs, and five bonnets with wigs in their own miniature decorated box. Several of the
costumes feature detail of the child clasping a toy or doll. One of
the dolls' heads has come off. Box slightly worn, lid reinforced.
28 x 21,5 x 2 cmSOLDcontact me
"THE MERRY MUSICIANS" BOARDGAME
German, circa 1860
Original cardboard box with illustration on the lid of a monkey
orchestra and the title in German, English and French. Contains a
hand-coloured four-fold board with music stands and audience in
the centre and numbers 1 to 18 around edge, six carved wooden Grödnertal monkey musicians, instructions, action cards and coins,
in original box. Gameboard in two separate pieces.
19 x 16 x 4 cmSOLD contact me
"MARIAGE DE FIGARO" THEATRE
Camus Léon, Paris, circa 1830
Containing five hand coloured engravings displaying a scene from Mozart's opera. Each of the engravings is pasted onto a folding strip along with a letterpress caption.The strip unfolds behind a hand coloured cardstock proscenium which frames the individual plates,
the orchestra depicted in front and the audience in boxes on the side. The title and imprint are on a sixth engraving showing the curtain.
Stuck onto a crumpled envelope. Paper slightly creased in places.
10,5 x 9,5 cmSOLD contact me
A PORTRAIT IN SCHRAUBTALER WITH MICA OVERLAYS
Austria 17th Century
A painted portrait of Maria Hedwig Sigismundi Francisci Gemahlin Princessin von Pfalz Sultzbach (1650-1681) in a silver schraubtaler that dates from 1665. At the other side a bust facing right, of her husband Sigismund Francis, Archduke of Austria (1630-1665). Along with the portrait are seven mica overlays with painted details of various costumes. To be laid over the portrait subject thus changing her attire. Painting and schraubtaler in excellent condition, mica overlays are worn.
Diam. 4 cmSOLDcontact me
"GRANDMAMMA'S NEW GAME OF NATURAL HISTORY"
English, ill. J.R. Barfoot for E. & M. A. Ogilvy, circa 1865
Game set consisting of a playing sheet showing in the centre an elderly woman seated at a table and 24 surrounding compartments representing fairy tale characters; 24 cards showing characters corresponding with those on the playing sheet; 36 cards showing birds and animals, on the backs of which are printed descriptions and four lines of verse; a printed sheet of rules. In original wooden box with a sliding lid with a lithographed picture showing people visiting a zoo.
19 x 15 x 3,5 cmSOLD contact me
"OPTIQUE No.9, LE PALAIS ROYAL"
French, circa 1830
Hand coloured front panel with central square viewing aperture and two smaller circular holes at sides for side arcades, folding concertina-style with the first four (of five) levels showing the area within the Palais, with lawns, statues, a fountain, and a pair of kiosks. In original marbled paper slip-case with engraved decorative title label. Slight wear.
19 x 14 cmSOLD contact me
A MOVABLE CARD (Tabla stritta or three-way transformation picture)
"Le bon ménage and Le mauvais ménage, French, circa 1830
Hand-colored engraving of a couple in love and a small child in a light blue embossed frame. When the picture is slid down, the same couple appears with a bigger child, fighting with each other. Accompanied by the text: "D’hymen les destins sont changeants, Si de l’un il charme la vie. D’autres il cause les tourments, mais au total c’est une loterie.
Ou l’on vois bien peu de gagnants." The whole thing is attached to a paper envelope.
6 x 8,7 cmSOLDcontact me
A SCRAPBOOK
Circa 1880
58 leaves with handcoloured lithographed and engraved plates,
in dark green leather cover, 4to.SOLDcontact me
FIVE MINIATURE BOOKS "LES PETITES FILLES ET LES POUPEES"
Published in Paris, circa 1845, by Jules Didot l'aîné
Five (of a set of six) miniature books about young girls at play with their dolls. Each book has delicate engravings of children and dolls. Embossed decoration on the cover with scrolls framing the title and one engraved illustration in the book. Five different cover colours, all with 32 pages. These doll stories published for little girls are entitled:
I. La Poupée merveilleuse. II. La Poupée invalide. III. La Poupée de linge. IV. La tante de carton. V. Les Poupées du jour de l'an.
13 x 10 cm.SOLDcontact me
