Children's geographical strip puzzle, with 'Les Australiens', ''Les Indous", 'Les Hottentots et Bushmans', and 'Les Arabes'.
France: ca. 1867. French children's strip puzzle, a "Jeu de Baguette", with scenes of life from 4 countries around the world on separate chromolithographed illustrated sheets; the puzzle itself on illustrated strips, which must be rotated to assemble the scenes illustrated on each of the sheets. A period paper label on the top cover with manuscript ink inscription, "Jeu de Baguette", and the dimensions.
Produced in France around 1860, with French title at top of box cover and French subtitles on each illustration. In its original cardboard box with the color illustration 'Les Australiens' on the front cover laid down, within a blue and white flowered cloth ribbon border. The box cover illustration depicts a successful kangaroo hunt by aborigines, with three hunters (one with boomerang) bearing a kangaroo and possum across their shoulders on sapling poles, to an eagerly waiting family group in a lean to at the right.
The three loose illustrations inside the box are signed 'H. Leutemann' in the lower corner- it's likely the images were published in Germany, where chromolithography was at its peak. The 3 illustrated scenes inside the box include: ''Les Indous", 'Les Hottentots et Bushmans', and 'Les Arabes'.
The dimensions of the game box are 15 1/2 x 12 1/2 x 1 1/2". Illustrated scenes inside box slt dusty, tears to edges. Box illustration rubbed; the printed illustrations with some closed tears in margins, otherwise in very good condition, puzzle strips themselves very good, colors bright and fresh. Item #24968
Price: $2,500.00