Let s Play Circus! Another Peek-a-Boo Book.

Dudley, Carrie.

Published by Minneapolis: A Gordon Volland Production presented by the Buzza Co., Craftacres, 1928.

About this Item

Carrie Douglas Dudley Ewen (1894 Ð 1982) was a Kentucky-born illustrator educated at the Art Institute of Chicago. She was a prolific artist whose work appeared in childrenÕs books, cookbooks, in advertisements and magazines, and on holiday cards. Her most popular books were these peek-a-boo books, though her work also appeared in Betty BaxterÕs SupposinÕ (1931), May JustusÕ At Foot of Windy Low (1930), and others. 12 x 9 in. [15] ff. With eight heavy card leaves, printed in color with circus scenes, each with die-cut windows that give a view of the underlying leaves. The remaining seven leaves are a thinner paper stock, also color-printed, offering backgrounds that can be viewed through the die-cut windows. The thick leaves are hinged at the left and the thin leaves at the right (similar to a dos-a-dos format), so they can be interleaved to create circus scenes. Playful verse printed in red. PublisherÕs die-cut pictorial boards printed in color. The cut-away parts of the boards reveal a Òwild manÓ circus attraction in a wooden cage (the Òwild manÓ appears to be a white child in blackface with the caption Òwild kanibull from feegee ilezÓ). The circus attractions include ÒAnimulez Freeks & EverythingÓ: a ÒmermadeÓ and Òbeerded lady,Ó a fierce ensemble of animals (goat, horse, parrot, and friendly dog), and the Òwild kanibull from feegee ilez.Ó The children playing circus appear in all the roles, including as at the ringmaster, the snake charmer, the wild man, the mermaid, and the clowns. Some wear to corners. Blue cloth spine. One leaf with minor old tape repair. Still a bright, near fine copy of an uncommon book. First edition of this movable toy book. This is a follow-up to an earlier movable toy book illustrated by Dudley, My Peek-a-Boo Show Book, which was very popular. Both feature the vivid color printing of Gordon Volland, son of the publisher Paul Frederick Volland (1875 Ð 1919). OCLC records seven copies: NYPL, UCLA, Chicago PL, Princeton, University of Michigan, University of Southern Mississippi, and the Filson Historical Society (Kentucky). ÒCarrie Douglas Dudley Ewen: Ohio Valley ArtistÓ and ÒCarrie Douglas Dudley Ewen Paper Doll CollectionÓ (webpages). Filson Historical Society website.

Seller Inventory # 17639

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Let s Play Circus! Another Peek-a-Boo Book.
• Publisher: Minneapolis: A Gordon Volland Production presented by the Buzza Co., Craftacres, 1928.
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Near Fine