WINGIN’ IT introduces our latest boxed set designed
for shelf storage. The case opens to a side-by-side view of two
doll-backed monographs. Both books are secured by specially engineered
"invisible" holders.
Each
book becomes a free-standing sculpture when pages are fanned into
a skirt.
Envelopes
behind each figure hold templates and instructions to make four
pig-theme articulated puppets reminiscent of 18th and 19th century
paper amusements.
Two tipped-in miniature books are additional features of each
volume. Part 1 showcases the original cover plus seven pages of
costume images from the first toy book, The Adventures of
Little Fanny. The mini-concertina measures 1-5/16 x 2-7/16
inches:
The second tiny tome reproduces the cover and a sampling of pages
from Paignion, a slotted book. The new concept in
interactive toy publications featured printed scenes with strategically
placed, hand cut slots into which any choice of over sixty paper
figures could be inserted. Though production was labor-intensive,
such toy books were best-sellers:
Part
2 features two 8-page 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inch hand stitched, illustrated
tip-ins with locking covers. Stages of Play is a
visual tour of pop-up books, 3-D peep shows, and toy auditoriums
that fed the Victorian era's passion for all things theatrical:
The
monograph ends with one last surprise -- examples of perambulating
paper dolls. Walking Papers transports with pictures,
fun facts and a patented paper mechanism to simulate walking:
The
limited edition of 100 sets was cut, assembled, and bound by hand
in the tradition of the antique Toy Book invented in 1810. The
presentation is designed for collectors of Artist's Books. Consequently,
both monographs are numbered and signed by the author, Jacqueline
Ernst, and book binder, Kenneth Holly.
Ernst
discusses paper dolls against a changing backdrop of historical
context to explain how and why they evolved to record and influence
attitudes and commerce of their day. Social, political, economic,
and technological developments set the stage for bits of paper
ephemera to depict changing perceptions of education, racism,
child psychology, human rights, labor standards, pop culture,
wearable fashion, literary merit and war-time support.
Though
the subject is frequently caught with its pants off, paper figures
are survivors. During their first 16 centuries, they were buried,
burned, bloodied, drowned, and made into purchase incentives,
puppets for adults, and proxies for human sarifice. Only in the
last 230 years have they been recognized as popular playthings
for youngsters. Even in that capacity, they leveraged surprising
influence. Paper dolls were instrumental in the design of early
children's books. They significantly advanced the publishing industry,
helped hone printing technology, and influenced international
product marketing.
Clearly,
paper dolls consistently exceed their most readily identified
role as two dimensional paper playthings. Ernst & Holly have hand
crafted an insightful, focused study that is also an engaging
contribution to book arts.
BOX: |
8-1/8"
x 9-3/4" x 3/4"
100# Kelly Digital Color Copy 98 white, lined with 6-ply orange
poster board, both ink jet printed. |
BOOKS: |
Mounted
sizes:
7-7/8" x 9-3/8" x 7/16"
(closed)
7-7/8" x 9-3/8" x 3-1/2"
(fanned open)
Details:
5-1/2" x 128" 24# Kelly Digital Color Copy 98 white,
cover backed with 80# Wassau Exact Matte Coated white cover,
mounted on 14-ply poster board, all ink jet printed. |
MONOGRAPH:
|
Part
1 -- 34 pages; 11 blk/wht, 26 color illustrations.
Part 2 -- 34 pages; 2 blk/wht, 41 color illustrations.
Both books are concertina folded to 5-1/2" x 3-3/8". |
MEDIUM: |
Paper,
Pacon Poster Board, PVA, Ribbon, Acrylic. |
EDITION::
|
Limited
to 100 hand bound, signed/numbered. |
PRICE:
|
$400.00
Retail |