A gift from Switzerland

Collection of short stories and verses for children, four of which are illustrated with a double page coloured popup illustration.

Ernest Nister was the leading publisher of movable books in the late 19th century. He was based in Nuremberg, Germany and had an office in London specifically looking to English tastes. His children were all depicted as rosy cheeked and in idyllic surroundings; the verses were whimsical and frequently written by Frederick Weatherly, a former barrister, who turned to song and verse writing. Nister developed the 'pop-up' style of picture book to a high degree and also pioneered the 'dissolving' style of movable, where by carefully pulling a tab, the picture could be changed with slats moving across to reveal the picture underneath, or by creating a circular movement which exposed the alternate image.

The Robins at home is typical of Nister's style: there are four double page pop-ups:

• children and a snowman in a snow scene
• children in a nursery with dolls, a 'make-believe ship with sails' and a boy riding two wooden horses
• Promenade scene showing two carriages with canine passengers, two cats on a tandem and a dog on a bicycle
• A circus scene

The promenade scene is considered to be an unsigned Louis Wain, the anthropomorphic cats typical of his style.

The book was purchased in Adelaide in the 1890s. It was handed down through the family for several generations then moved to Switzerland with Marcia Guerne, the grand daughter of the purchaser. Her daughters did not like the book and ultimately decided to offer it to the State Library of South Australia, where it was gratefully accepted.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

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