“A WIZARD, WITH SCISSORS AND PASTE, I WOULD MENTION, TO PLEASE ALL YOU CHILDREN, WORKED OUT AN INVENTION…”: TWO EARLY BRITISH POP-UP BOOKS, DESIGNED BY S. LOUIS GIRAUD

GIRAUD, S. Louis, ed. Daily Express Children’s Annual. WITH: Daily Express Children’s Annual No. 3. London: The Lane Publications, [1929, 1933]. Octavo, original pictorial paper boards, pictorial endpapers. $1400.

First editions of the first and third of S. Louis Giraud’s ingenious movable books, illustrated with color frontispieces and title pages, numerous black-and-white illustrations and 14 color pop-ups.

In 1929, “British book publisher S. Louis Giraud conceived, designed and produced books with movable illustrations… While the term had yet to be used, these were authentic pop-up books. Each title contained at least five double-page spreads that erected automatically when the book was opened, with illustrations that could be viewed from all four sides. Unlike the German precursors, Giraud’s books were moderately priced… Between 1929 and 1949, Giraud produced a series of 16 annuals, first for the Daily Express and later as an independent publisher… Giraud’s books reached a wide audience and were very popular” (Montanaro, xviii-xix). The 14 “self-erecting models” in these two books—seven in each—illustrate an assortment of stories, poems and conundrums, including “Punch and Judy,” “Bath Time,” “The Flower Fairy” and “In Santa Claus Land.” Montanaro, 64-65. Annual No. 3 ex-library, with small institutional blindstamp to the upper corner of pages 35-36, no other library markings.

All pop-ups bright and clean; although portions of some are occasionally partly detached or loose, only one exhibits a tear (the diorama of Santa Claus on the front endpapers of Annual No. 3), and several remain completely intact and functional. Small split to spine foot of Annual No. 1. Light rubbing to boards. An extremely good and attractive pair.