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1883 ULRICO HOEPLI — BAMBINI IN TEATRORare Italian Pop-Up Paper Theater PairNos. III & IVLittle Red Riding Hood & Sleeping BeautyChromolithographed Three-Dimensional Scenic Books
Ulrico Hoepli. I bambini in teatro: quattro teatrini. Milan, 1883.
A rare surviving pair from Ulrico Hoepli’s remarkable nineteenth-century Italian series of three-dimensional chromolithographed paper theaters.
Included are:
No. III — Berrettina Rossa
Little Red Riding Hood
No. IV — Fior dell’Aurora
Sleeping Beauty
Hoepli’s I bambini in teatro was published in Milan in 1883 as the Italian version of the scenic-book format associated with the German publisher Löwensohn. The complete series comprised four theatrical representations:
- Robinson Crusoe
- Il gatto stivalato
- Berrettina Rossa
- Fior dell’Aurora
Modern bibliographical research documents the Hoepli edition as a four-part scenic book constructed from substantial cardboard panels opening into dimensional theatrical scenes.
The present offering contains Representations III and IV.
EARLY POP-UP / MOVABLE BOOK DESIGN
Each piece combines printed Italian narrative with an elaborate chromolithographed three-dimensional theater.
When opened, multiple scenic layers separate to create a miniature stage incorporating:
- foreground figures
- woodland scenery
- architectural elements
- theatrical curtains
- die-cut characters
- layered backgrounds
- decorative borders
- printed narrative text
The effect is much closer to a miniature toy theater or diorama than to a conventional illustrated children\'s book.
These fragile constructions belong to the early history of what would later be called the pop-up or movable book.
The original Löwensohn theatrical scenes were also sold individually, meaning surviving single scenes and partial groupings have an independent collecting history rather than existing only as fragments of bound four-part sets.
NO. III — BERRETTINA ROSSA
The third representation tells the story of Little Red Riding Hood.
The principal three-dimensional scene depicts Berrettina in a richly colored woodland setting with the wolf nearby.
The chromolithography remains particularly attractive, with strong greens, reds, yellows, and woodland detail.
Multiple layers create convincing depth through trees, foliage, figures, and distant scenery.
NO. IV — FIOR DELL’AURORA
The fourth representation corresponds to the story of Sleeping Beauty.
The narrative includes the birth of the princess, the offended fairy\'s curse, the spindle, enchanted sleep, and eventual awakening.
The scenic construction incorporates the princess, attendants, courtiers, musicians, animals, and richly detailed woodland or palace imagery.
CHROMOLITHOGRAPHED PAPER ENGINEERING
These theaters were made from multiple printed and die-cut cardboard components joined so that the scenery could rise into three dimensions when opened.
Surviving examples are inherently fragile because the connecting strips, tabs, folds, and scenic layers were subject to repeated handling by children.
Complete and mechanically intact examples are scarce.
A complete four-scene Löwensohn Theater-Bilderbuch in very good condition sold at Ketterer Kunst for €1,875 including premium, demonstrating established collector demand for this distinctive theatrical format.
The Italian Hoepli version is encountered much less frequently in the market.
CONDITION
Fair to Good antiquarian condition, with significant structural wear.
Both theaters are fragile survivors showing substantial age and handling damage.
The principal scenic elements remain present, recognizable, colorful, and displayable, but the mechanisms are not fully sound.
Several interior supports and layered scenic elements have become detached at their joins.
Some components hang, lean, or sit slightly out of alignment.
The theaters can still be opened sufficiently to display their three-dimensional construction, but they should be handled carefully and should not be repeatedly opened and closed.
Condition includes:
- detached or weakened support strips
- tears and creases
- edge losses
- abrasions
- foxing and staining
- surface dirt and handling wear
- losses to lower text panels and margins
- weakened tabs and joins
- distortion to some scenic elements
- wear to cloth or paper attachment points
Berrettina Rossa
Substantial edge wear and damage are present to portions of the scenic construction.
The principal background, foreground, characters, and major structural elements remain present.
Fior dell’Aurora
Likewise retains its principal theatrical scenery and dimensional form but has tears, losses, weakened joins, and damage including a missing portion at the lower corner of the text panel.
No modern restoration has been undertaken.
These pieces are offered as rare original nineteenth-century paper-theater survivals, not as pristine functioning toys.
Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
Publisher: Ulrico Hoepli
Title: I bambini in teatro: quattro teatrini
Place: Milan
Date: 1883
Included: Nos. III and IV
Titles: Berrettina Rossa and Fior dell’Aurora
Subjects: Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty
Language: Italian
Format: Paper theater / scenic book / movable book
Printing: Chromolithography
Construction: Layered cardboard three-dimensional theatrical scenes
Condition: Fragile, incomplete mechanically, with substantial age wear and detached supports
A rare and colorful pair from an important early European scenic-book series, with strong appeal to collectors of antique pop-up books, movable books, toy theaters, chromolithography, fairy tales, Victorian children\'s books, Italian publishing, and paper ephemera.
