Meggendorfer - Nah und Fern - a movable book 1887
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Nah und Fern Ein Tiebilderbuch zum Ziehe
(NEAR AND FAR An Animal Picture Book)
Lothar Meggendorfer
Munich: Braun and Schneider, [1887]. 4to (13 x 9 inches; 320 x 235mm).
8 movable plates.
Condition : Excellent - All movables complete and working. All parts of the book are original (except for a new broom on final page) with no facsimiles.Covers are in good condition with limited soiling and edge/corner wear.The original cloth spine is intack withsmall pull tears at top and bottom. Inside pages are in excellent condition with slight age yellowing, edgessmooth with no tears. The pulls are original, no repairs, some finger soiling from many delighted pulls witha few small glued tears at edge of pull slots. The very active tails of the lion and the cow have been carefully re-glued at a tiny spot Giraffe had small tear at top of leg.
A fine collection of animated and sometimes elaborate pictures of animals near and far. Maurice Sendak calls “Der Papagei” (The Parrot) “perhaps one of the most spectacular of all Meggendorfers” and “Die Schäwne” (The Swan) “one of the loveliest portraits in the Meggendorfer gallery.” Sendak, Caldecott & Co. , p 57
Collectors Corner and description of movables:
Nah and Fern focuses on animals and their unique movements. Maurice Sendak* describes
Meggendorfer's caring and observation of animals saying, "It is always exact and precisely the movement of
each individual creature." The book is Meggendorfer's moving tribute to these creatures he loved and
admired. Each of the moveables reflects that. This is an eagerly sought after book and is rarely found in
such good condition.
Der Lowe (The Lion) depicts the animal, as in many Meggendorder works, in a simplified, basically flat
environment with few details lightly washed in a pale tint. The emphasis remains with the animal who
stares at you. Pull the magical tab, the lion drops his fearsome jaws then lowers his head very threatening
and swings high his tail beyond the edge of the page.Meggendorfer greatly admired animals, caring for and observing their movements using them over and overwith extraordinary, powerful and often charming results.
Die Schwane (The Swans) depicts a delightfully charming scene of mother and child in lovely dresses
feeding a large pond of swans. When slowly activated mother and child in gentle movements toss food to
the birds. The mother nods and the swans respond in graceful curving of their necks. There are many
references to this as one of the most beautiful moveables and Sendek* called it "one of the loveliest
portraits in the Meggendorfer gallery."
Die Giraffe, (The Giraffe) like the Lion, stands stands in a simplified environment with his head lowered at
the edge of some water. Gently pull the tab as he slowly gracefully lifts his neck while turning his head
reaching a full 14" high! A gentle push of the tab lowers him with a nodding head reaching for the water to
drink.
In Das Kalb (The Cow) a farmer attemps to pull his cow in an interesting movement. As the tab is pulled
the farmer tugs on a rope in an effort to move a cow while moving his arms and bending at the waist. The
cow lowers its head lifting its tail while pulling against the rope. Front and hind moving back and forth in
the tug one can feel the determined effort on both their parts.
Der Papagei (The Parrot) is an especially ingenious dramatic series of movements! Pulling the tab gently
and slightly to the sides as indicated by the width of the marked slot, the parrot swings on his perch
crossing over to the previous page. His body arches and his tail lifts as his beak snaps for the food that has
swung up with the movement of the swing. Sendek* refers to this as "a tour de force of complex
movements." Truely, Meggendofor's creative and artistic genius are in full swing
here!
In Das Kamel (The Camel) two young black childen ride atop a large camel their waving arms while
another child stands below holding rope to the camel and waving to the boys. In Die beiden Schweinchen
(Man with two Pigs) he holds a pig in each arm. With one pull the man opens his mouth wide while both
pigs kick squelling and one wiggles a tail.
Der Elefant (The Elephant) gives another look at Meggendorfer's ability for strong animal movement. One
pull causes the elephant to raise its trunk straight up high from the page. You can almost hear its roar! A
young black man holds a bucket of water and lifts his broom to scrub the elephant.
*Note: References to Sendak are fromThe Publishing Archive of Of Luther Meggendorfer, JC.Schiller, NY
1975, "An Appreciation" by Maurice Sendak.
Questions? Email us at [email protected]
Product Code: MEG-4
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