The Magic Toymaker. The Little Modeller, No. 49. by [Puppets] - [ ca. 1867]

[London:] G. Clarke & Co., [ ca. 1867] First edition. Original yellow printed paper wrappers illustrated with a woodcut of children at play. . Single sheet (35" x 11 ") folded in wrappers (4 " x 6"). . Sheet printed with twenty large woodcuts meant to be cut out of the sheet and assembled into two paper puppets (a character named Lord Dundreary and his dog). The puppets, if cut out and assembled, would be about fourteen inches tall. Large sheet with a tear along one fold (approx. 6"), affecting one piece of the paper puppet of Lord Dundreary. Some chipping to edges of sheet. A remarkable survival given that this item was meant to be cut apart for play. A very good copy of a fragile and rare item. The Little Modeller series from G. Clarke & Co., of which this is number forty-nine, introduced a line of jointed paper puppets. The puppets of Lord Dundreary and the dog Toby include jointed legs and arms to create a dancing effect. These puppets were meant to be cut out of the paper sheets, pasted onto cardboard, colored, and tied with strings. Then children could tie the opposite ends of the strings to their fingers and make the puppets "dance" like marionettes.