Jitka Bodlakova — Papirove Divadelko

Praha [Prague], Statni Nakladatelstevi Detske Knihy, 1960. First edition. Hardback. A very scarce paper theatre, complete with folding scenes and characters, published in the Czech Republic in the 1960s. An extremely scarce toy theatre published in 1960 by the state publishing house of Czechoslovakia, SNDK. The bright characters and scenes are the work of Czech artist and illustrator Helena Rokytova.Containing one children's playbook, the work of Czech children's author Jitka Bodlakova, titled 'Pet Her pro Papirove Divadelki', created for this work. Also included are one folding stage, three folding sets - depicting a forest, a castle and a town - and twelve character and costume sheets, designed to be cut and folded into three dimensional characters. Collated, complete.The playbook bears the stamp of The Frank Bradley Theatre Collection, a large toy theatre exhibition held in Pickford House, Derby.Also present are stamps bearing the name of Professor Jan Malik of Prague, who created a network of professional puppet theatres across his country, and served as the director and manager of the Prague Central Puppet Theatre in the 1950s and 60s. In the publisher's original portfolio binding, with pictorial paper covered boards. Cloth back strip bumped to head and tail, with handwritten title. Shelf wear to board extremities. Library stamp to front pastedown. Library stamp to front wrap of play. The odd patch of light spotting to theatre scenes. Character sheets are not cut. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Helena Rokytova. Very Good Indeed .