FIRST EDITION OF DISNEY'S "POP-UP" SILLY SYMPHONIES

DISNEY STUDIOS. The "Pop-up" Silly Symphonies, Containing Babes In the Woods and King Neptune. New York: Blue Ribbon Books, (1933). Quarto, original pictorial boards, original pictorial endpapers. $1650.

First edition, illustrated with in-text line drawings and plates and four double-page full-color pop-ups.

"As the Depression years deepened, American book publishers sought ways to rekindle book buying… Blue Ribbon Publishing of New York found a combination that proved successful. They animated Walt Disney characters and fairy tales with pop ups," becoming "the first publisher to use the term… to describe movable illustrations" (Montanaro, xix). This book is based on two of Disney's animated musical shorts from 1932: "While the character-based 'Mickey Mouse' films used music as an accompaniment to the action, the 'Silly Symphonies' created stories through the use of music" (ANB). "These pop-up books had the dual appeal of a book and a toy and became quite popular. Because of their unusual pop-up feature, they have become favorites among collectors" (Munsey, 164). Without very scarce dust jacket. Owner signature in a child's hand.

Pop-ups intact and fine, occasional trace of gutter-edge glue residue, mild soiling to bright pictorial boards. An excellent near-fine copy.