This ad, in German reads:

"Malbücher Reklameartikel Gesellschaftsspiele Beschäftigungsspiele Bilderbücher Mosaikspiele, Carl Schaller BILDERBÜCHER- UND SPIELEFABRIK Fürth in Bayern. ZUR MESSE IN LEIPZIG: PETERSHOF V KOJE 552, Hela- BASTELKÄSTEN,‘PROPELLER-WAGEN’ KASTEN NR.36."

Translated into English, it states:

“Coloring books Promotional items Board games Activity games Picture books Mosaic games, Carl Schaller PICTURE BOOK AND GAME FACTORY Fürth in Bavaria, AT THE FAIR IN LEIPZIG: PETERSHOF V BOOTH 552, Hela- CRAFT BOXES, “PROPELLER CAR’ BOX NO.36”

Note: "Hela craft box No. 37," was designed for building a model of a "Propeller-Wagen" (propeller car). This craft box, dating back to the 1920s, was both a teaching tool and a game, offering materials sufficient for building several models. The box included various components like metal connectors, round timber, paper strips, and a construction plan. This product reflected the expanded approach of Carl Schaller's factory to games. We have seen an earlier ad promoting "Hela craft box No. 27," designed for building a model of the Graf Zeppelin D-LZ 127.

THE BOOKS:

Following Kirn's departure in 1885, several movables were published with only the Carl Schaller imprint, marked by an interlaced C and S logo. The listed movable books below originated both from the original company, Schaller and Kirn, and hence were published between 1883 and 1885 and Carl Schaller titles published solely under Schaller's name.

Our research has identified over 40 movable titles by Schaller and Kirn or Carl Schaller, featuring editions in German, English, and French. Identifying these books can be challenging, as the firms often employed only their logo for publishing information.

Logo for Schaller & Kirn: (stylized "S" and "K" intertwined in an elegant manner) (1883 - 1885)

Logo for Carl Shaller (without Kirn) (intertwined capital letters S and C = Carl Schaller ) (1886 - 1932)

Section 1: Global Networks of Nineteenth-Century Movable Book Publishing: The Influence of Carl Schaller and European Collaboration

Movable books often involved collaboration between publishers, printers, and manufacturers across different countries, as these projects required specialized skills and technologies (e.g., chromolithography, die-cutting, and riveted mechanisms. Publishers often relied on specialized printers for chromolithographs and die-cutting technologies unavailable in-house. Cross-border partnerships allowed publishers to adapt books for different languages and markets efficiently.

Identifying a shared producer sheds some light the connections between publishers (e.g., Capendu, Carl Schaller) and their supply chain. It also highlights the interconnected networks of the book trade in Europe.

Example:

The presence of Carl Schaller’s CS monogram on an Italian book, Favole con Figure Animate Libro II, as well as it’s German edition, Glückliche Kinder, underscores Schaller’s role as a central figure in the production of movable books.

Similarly, Fables de La Fontaine, a book published by the French publisher A. Capendu, shares the same movable mechanisms and rivets as Favole con Figure Animate Libro II. Page 20 of Pop-App: Scienza, arte e gioco nella storia dei libri animati dalla carta alle app (edited by Gianfranco Crupi and Pompeo Vagliani, 2019) explicitly connects Fables de La Fontaine to the same producer as Favole con Figure Animate Libro II. This linkage highlights how shared production methods facilitated cross-border collaborations.

Fables de La Fontaine, French version by A. Capendu

Favole con Figure Animate Libro – Italian version with Carl Schaller logo

Another Example: Dean & Son's collaboration with Carl Schaller to distribute English editions reflects how publishers used existing plates rather than starting from scratch.

German Movable Book, Glückliche Kinder : ein unterhaltsames Bilderbuch mit beweglichen Tableaux für die liebe Jugend , bears the Carl Schaller Logo

We have another edition in English titled Happy Children, published by Dean & Son. It is highly likely that this Dean edition originates with Carl Schaller and Dean was effectively a distributor for an English language edition of the plates produced by Schaller in Fürth.

Dean & Son English Edition (image from the vintagepoupbooks.com collection)

Another book Spel en Scherts (in Dutch) bears the CS logo (associated with Carl Schaller), The Dutch book Spel en Scherts contains two plates (movable illustrations) that are also found in Dean & Sons Happy Children . While Dean's has 5 movable plates total – the Dutch one has 4.

See below: Spel en Scherts, (31 x 22.5 cm) five chromolithograph illustrations with tab-operated movable parts. CS logo on front board.

A notable difference in the English and Dutch editions lies in the rowing boat illustration. In Dean’s Happy Children, the oar is a movable piece, whereas in Spel en Scherts, the oar is stationary, with the design adjusted accordingly (e.g., a missing chunk of the oar is intentional and not due to damage). This simplification may reflect efforts to reduce production costs or tailor the book to regional preferences, such as the Dutch market’s needs.

The differences between Schaller’s Glückliche Kinder , the Dutch Spel en Scherts and Dean’s Happy Children may reflect adaptation for different markets or production constraints. Publishers might have opted for simplified mechanisms to reduce production costs. Or possibly these Books were tailored to regional preferences or audience expectations (e.g., Dutch vs. English markets).

Conclusion for Section1:

The interconnected networks of 19th-century movable book publishers, exemplified here by the work of Carl Schaller, Capendu, and Dean & Son, reflect the collaborative spirit of European bookmaking during this period. These partnerships not only allowed for cost-effective production and global distribution but also left a lasting legacy of innovation in publishing. By tracing shared designs and mechanisms across languages and regions, we gain a deeper appreciation for the ingenuity and cooperation that defined the golden age of movable books.

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Section 2: Titles that have been found in English or French as well as German or Dutch: (Section 3 lists movable books that we have not found in English)

Happy Children ( As shown above)

German Edition: Glückliche Kinder: ein unterhaltsames Bilderbuch mit beweglichen Tableaux für die liebe Jugend... [Fürth], 1885) 5 movables - Carl Schaller 1885

English translation: " "Happy Children: An Entertaining Picture Book with Movable Tableaux for the Beloved Youth"” Dean & Son edition: (available on vintagepopupbooks.com)

More Books:

"DRAAI MAAR VERDER!:
English Translation: "TURN FURTHER! Pleasant picture book for big and small with changeable figures, taken from daily life. (1890)"

Dutch Edition: "DRAAI MAAR VERDER! Prettig prentenboek voor groot en klein met veranderlijke Figuren, genomen uit het dagelijks leven. (1890)"

This movable picture book is a delightful and engaging book for all ages. It features a movable disc (volvelle) for each of 5 scenes that turns to reveal one of 10 different faces on each of the 5 characters. The figures include Baas Pikdraad, an Englishman, a rocking child, a washerwoman, and a pianist.

image from the collection of vintagepopupbooks.com - available here: https://www.vintagepopupbooks.com/Schaller

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Gulliver: A Miraculous Voyage to Lilliput:

Ketterer & Kunst auctioned an English S&K titled: Gulliver: A Miraculous Voyage to Lilliput: Six Moving Pictures for Well-bred Children 10 and 1/2 “. (26.7 cm) Two movable illustrations on each of 6 movable pages. Gulliver was shipwrecked, shackled by the dwarves, as a giant statue, and finally, the escape in a rowboat on the rocking sea.

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ABC - illustrated. With instructive questions and answers for good children.

Ketterer & Kunst auctioned an English edition titled: ABC - illustrated. It had nineteen shutter-type moveables on ten sheets. Again, auctioned by Ketterer & Kunst

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Fables and Anecdotes of Animals. An amusing picture book for good children:

Auctioned by Ketterer & Kunst in English: 6 movable pages - Schaller & Kirn, 1885 - 5 movables: rat and elephant, hare and tortoise, fox and stork, raven and fox, grasshopper and ant, and wolf and the lamb (Found in English).

Original in German: "Fabeln u. Lehren der Thiere. Unterhaltendes Bilderbuch f. artige Kinder, enth. 6 belegt. (chromolith.) Tafeln. qu. 4. (6 Bl. Text.) Schreiber & Kirm. geb. baar 2.—; m. Goldschnitt. 2.50."

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Pleasant Hours: An entertaining picture book with movable pictures for young people.

Schaller & Kirn

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THE BIG WASH: An Entertaining Picture Book for Well-Behaved Girls. With 5 Color Lithographed Plates with Pull Mechanism. English Edition: (Fürth. Schaller & Kirn, 1885)

(Translated from German title: GROSSE WÄSCHE Ein unterhaltendes Bilderbuch für artige Mädchen. Mit 5 farblitho-graphierten Tafeln mit Ziehmechanismus. (Fürth. Schaller & Kirn, 1885)

(Notes: This book, aimed at teaching young girls about housekeeping, features a series of movable images that depict two small girls engaging in various laundry-related activities. The scenes include washing the laundry, hanging it to dry, flattening and ironing the clothes, a dispute over a doll, and going to bed, among others. The book contains 5 movable images and measures approximately 7.5” x 9”

We also found this title online via Alphabet Books catalog #102 page 57 in French - Grande Lessive. Livre d'images mobiles pour l'amusement des fillettes bien sages. Another image can be seen from the ANTIQUARIAT WINFRIED GEISENHEYNER KATALOG 77 Winter 2009

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The Golden Book – The English Edition is shown in the photo below – We’ve also seen a German edition

English Edition: "The Golden Book: Six Movable Pictures with Appropriate Verses for Well-Behaved Children. Schaller & Kirn. Fürth 1885." Note that the copy shown came with gold gilt; Schaller & Kirn offered this as a more expensive edition on some of their movable books.

Original in German: "Das goldene Buch: sechs bewegliche Bilder mit passenden Versen für artige Kinder. Schaller & Kirn. Fürth 1885."

LIVELY PEOPLE AN AMUSING PICTURE BOOK
Hardcover Pagination: 6 movable pages 10.5" X 14.25"
Found in old reference books dated 1893 with only the Carl Schaller logo. In 1893 it cost 1.30 or you could get it by mail for $1.46

Droll Fellows: Six Moving Pictures with Rhymes for Well-bred Children
An English edition has been seen online entitled: Droll Fellows: Six Moving Pictures with Rhymes for Well-bred Children - Fürth, Schaller & Kirn

A Variety Show: Revolving Pictures for Young People - Publisher: Carl Schaller
The only Schaller softcover? Date: 1885 – 1890

Format: Softcover Dimensions: 14cm x 14cm
Features: 4 movable pictures via a volvelle turning wheel with printed story text to versos.

Description: Contains four color-printed leaves with cut-out windows that display revolving images. Each image is printed on circular paper plates, affixed with rivets. The plates are mounted within the leaves. A story in English is printed on the verso of each movable. Notably, the publisher's logo, Carl Schaller, adorns the bottom of each movable. The image on the far left is the front cover. It can be viewed in the Virtual Museum at vintagepopupbooks.com