ALL AT SEA, A VOJTECH KUBASTA POP-UP BOOK, FEATURING SIX DOUBLE-PAGE POP-UPS OF TIP, TOP, AND TAP SAILING ON ICONIC SHIPS

KUBASTA, Vojtech. All at Sea. (London: Brown Watson), 1986. Quarto, original glazed pictorial paper boards. $700.

Later edition of this sailing-themed installment in the Tip + Top + Tap series, featuring an original story and six wonderful, double-page, folio pop-ups.

This wonderful pop-up book includes an original story and six large, double-page pop-ups (10 x 10 x 10 inches) about two boys and their dog sailing all over the world in search of the perfect ship. "Kubasta's talent as a graphic artist was to combine a robust graphic style of great charm and humor with a puppet-master's flair for story-telling in three dimensions" (John Michael Dawson). "His distinctive bold and colorful figures, as seen in this work, became increasingly popular. After the Czech publishing industry was nationalized in 1948, Kubasta began creating advertising materials for Czech products abroad that included three-dimensional cards for items such as Pilsner beer, porcelain and sewing machines. Beginning in the 1950s, he developed elaborate paper construction crèches annually each Christmas season… His beautifully designed and intricate pop-ups were later produced from the 1960s-1980s worldwide and became the inspiration for the revival of the pop-up book industry in America" (Stephen Van Dyke, Smithsonian Libraries). "Kubasta's faux-naif style with a Bohemian flavor is somewhat exotic to an American eye" (Ellen G.K. Rubin), and "today, original editions of his illustrations and books are sought after by collectors from around the world" (James A. Findlay). Kubasta's works were all printed in Czechoslovakia using a special pre-war press at the state-run company, Artia Prague. This later, retitled edition of Tip + Top + Tap at Sea (1964) was also printed by Artia. Montanaro, 9.

About-fine condition.