World War One Era German Manuscript Birthday Present for 6-year-Old Hanno from Uncle Erwin and Aunt Gretl

Item Details

World War One Era German Manuscript Birthday Present for 6-year-Old Hanno from Uncle Erwin and Aunt Gretl

Book measures 10 5/8 x 7 15/16 inches. 24pp. Apparent commercially produced blank book with string-tied binding and blind embossed stamping to front which has been colored in. Light ear and chipping to cover. Grey cardstock interior leaves; several have chipped corners. White pencil is off-set to adjacent page. Good condition.

Wonderful hand-made birthday present for 6-year-Old Hanno from his Uncle Erwin and Aunt Gretl. Although undated, several of the scenes appear to feature German soldiers in World War One period costumes. Each page appears to be a combination of pasted down printed leaves with hand coloration, with several leaves exhibiting scarp-book-like scraps without coloration.

The book features takes on traditional German songs, fairy tales and patriotic themes--some of which seem slightly mature for a six-year-old. A very fun item.

Roughly translated: "The soldiers are strictly following the rules: ping-pong-põna pang-ping-põuz. They stand guard, read the newspaper, and sweep. If the enemy comes, they'll be in their place in a flash."

and,

"Here now stands the little angel who came down from heaven with great curiosity; For a long time it has been searching, but cannot find its way home; now it looks imploringly at the robes that will surely show it the way."