- GERMANY -

In the 1830s, there was the custom in Germany of sending printed sheets to provincial theatre directors with the characters that were in fashion in the capital, in order to provide them with some professional guidance. Several publishers saw a business opportunity in using these printed sheets and, little by little, they turned them into theatre sheets for children. Considering that the repertoires came from real works (operas, dramas, legends and folk tales), the illustrations were extremely artistic and often portrayed rather crude topics. Since copying between publishers was a rather common practice, it is also fascinating to try to trace the original source of these designs.

Large sceneries were made for the upper class. Schreiber was one of the main producers of these printed sheets, which he started to modernise, introducing a more realistic style. One of his most appreciated stage designs was the “Egyptian Temple” he created for Mozart’s Magic Flute. Schreiber was the only publisher who survived within this business, and his toys were sold until World War II. The company, which is still an important German publishing house, has reprinted some of its toy theatres in recent years.

We must also mention the sheets of tableaux published in Neuruppin, in the 19th century, which featured original stories, as well as versions of romances and tales, very similar to those made in Epinal, France, which we will discuss later on. Other artists and publishers, such as Gustav Kühn and Joseph Scholz also specialised in the production of toy theatres that could be used to simulate brief performances, which had to be previously cut out and mounted. This city was so important in the production of this type of items that its publishers became known as “Neuruppiners,” a term that mostly referred to the sequential narrative organisation of the tableaux, which we could compare to the comic strips of our time.

NEURUPPINER TEATREN

NEURUPPINER TEATREN

Another of the most valuable pieces of the collection is this theatre of the German publisher Gustav Kühn. This excellent illustrator belonged to the flow of so-called "Neuruppiners" (see History). This is one of my best theaters and had cost "other" fortune in his time: it is very possible that this is a piece almost unique. It is in perfect state of preservation, if I am not mistaken, completely. The theater includes 10 side, two walls of substance, a cardboard castle interior, 3 librettos in German and 22 characters. In the characters are printed the following names: Herzog Lotar, Joan of Arc, Elisa, Hofdame, Philipp der guitar, Kammerherr, General Walter, Baltasar, Konigin, Magd, Talbot, Fudelia, Fadetta, Isabel, Graf Dincis, Charles VII, Raimond and Konigin Gisela.
It has a wooden base to store and decorated characters.

Editor: Gustav Kühn
Year: 1840
Provenance: Neuruppin, Germany

URANIA

Teatro "URANIA"

Printed on paper and pasted on wood by the manufacturer. It has depth and three racks that make up the scene inside a home.

Editor: Joseph Scholz
Year: 1870
Provenance: Leipzig, Germany.

TINY TOWN THEATRE

Theater with a very child aesthetic in the box as in the decor and characters. The text of the label says "Plays for little folks" and the work it contains is The Babes in the Wood, traditional English tale for children and edited theatres often to paper.

Originating from Germany, the tradition of toy Spear family dates back to 1832 and continued until 1994, when his company was sold to Mattel. I do not know the origin of this theater because the company had offices in different countries.

Editor: Spear & Sons
Year: 1920?
Procedencia: unknown

Lithography and other pieces on paper: SCHREIBER (Germany)