Unpaginated volume containing 8 cardstock leaves depicting figures and animals of the circus to be cut out and assembled with small paper fasteners such as brads. Oblong octavo (8 3/4 x 11 1/2 inches). Original colorful illustrated stapled wrappers. Staples removed, some wear along spine, edgewear to wrappers especially at corners, some small areas of staining to interior pages, light age-darkening, overall good. [Paris]: Flammarion, 1938.

Albert Mentzel (also known as Albert Flocon, 1909-1994), was a German engraver and artist who studied at the Bauhaus in Dessau under Josef Albers, Paul Klee, and Vassily Kandinsky. He worked as part of Oskar Schlemmer's theater troupe for a time before fleeing Germany for Paris. After emigrating, Mentzel worked at an advertising agency with Victor Vasarely before being imprisoned during World War II. His wife and daughter died in Auschwitz and Albert managed to escape from prison, returning to Paris with his two surviving children in 1945 where he changed his name to Flocon. In 1949 he founded an engraving workshop, Atelier de l'Ermitage. This volume dates to fairly early in Mentzel's career, shortly after his arrival in France.

The pages contain images of circus figures including an elephant, wrestlers, acrobats, musical clowns, a lion tamer, a juggler, a female circus performer on horseback, and monkeys, with the recto in chromolithograph and verso in black and white, with indications as to where to fold and attach the various pieces. The inside front and back covers also contain instructions for assembly.

Very scarce; as of July 2026, OCLC only locates a single copy outside of France.

Book ID: 53648

Price: $1,250.00