Outdoor Play.
Akron, Ohio: Kohler & Co., S. H. Kohler, (1908); felt signature with 3 leaves folded and sewn making ten interior pages; front cover of boy with hoop and publication data, back cover with toy lamb in cartouche and "Kohler's felt toy books. Trade Mark" and below "The Original Felt Books"; 4.8x6.6"; np. Toploader fabric Kohler Felt Toy Books.
Hardy children playing outside in all weather: Jan- coasting down the hill, Feb- skating on the ice, Mar- making a snowman (!), Apr- making a garden, May- gathering wildflowers, June- flying kites, July playing in the park, Aug- giving a picnic, SeptOct- gathering leaves, NovDec- on the schoolhouse playground, in the snow. A much snowier and colder world. These are full colour illustrations from gutter to edge.
Wool felt books are sturdy, quiet, light, and warm. Like Japanese crepe paper books, they take colour better than woven cloth. They were briefly popular before WWI, but probably the difficulty of keeping them clean was daunting and they tended to darken easily when exposed to light. They are now rare. Kohler, Co under Anderson & Stoner, had produced fourteen titles in four series in 1908, and Saalfield others. Now, as far as we can tell, there are only about five books in all on Worldcat, in the Library of Ccongress etc., as well as a similar number online. Ask for Publisher's Weekly a2/1908 article.
CONDITION: Very Good Plus; all edges and thinner outside felt quite dull with one white nick and one small spot, inside very bright, unwrinkled and clean (one small spot). If a felt book could be described as "tight", this is. Item #17503
$250