Abadie-Papier-Gesellschaft

 The Austrian company Abadie traces its origins back to the Hungarian industrialist Emil M. Farchy, who established a cigarette paper factory in Vienna and began production there in 1907. In 1910, the French "Abadie-Papier-Gesellschaft" took over the operation of this factory. In 1938, the business underwent "Aryanization." The war and post-war periods saw several subsequent name changes and other developments, until the company was finally acquired by Austria Tabakwerke in 1972. Shortly thereafter, production was discontinued.

The Austrian firm Abadie utilized extensive promotional material, including many items aimed at children. There were countless different series of trading cards designed to be pasted into albums, as well as paper animals for crafting and cutout sheets—featuring, for instance, traditional folk costumes.

Here, I would like to document the five series known to me that can be classified under the collecting theme of "paper soldiers." The figures depicting soldiers exclusively most likely all date back to the period prior to the Aryanization. The series featuring Wild West figures, however, is very difficult to date. To date, I have not found any corroborating evidence for it anywhere; consequently, these figures could potentially originate from the early post-war era.

Since the company produced not only cigarette paper but also other paper products—and possessed its own printing presses as well as a poster-printing department—it must be assumed that the paper-based advertising products bearing the Abadie name were also manufactured in-house.

Series on the Abyssinian War (15 sheets, presumably published starting in 1935)

Small sheets, approximately DIN A5 size, inscribed "Soldaten Bilderbogen Nr." numbered consecutively from 1 to 15.

Nr.1 - Abessinier (Haile Selassie mit Stab, Fahnenträger, Häuptling usw. - 6 Figures)

Nr.2 - Abessinier (Geschütz, MG, Scharfschützen - 5 Figures)

Nr.3 - Abessinier (Häuptling, Stammestruppen - 8 Figures)

Nr.4 - Abessinier (Reguläre Infanterie - 8 Figures)

Nr.5 - Abessinier (Häuptling, Stammestruppen, Scharfschützen, Kavallerie - 9 Figures)

Nr.6 - Abessinier (Kavallerie, Infanterie - 6 Figures)

Nr.7 - Abessinier (Stammestruppen, Infanterie - 10 Figures)

Nr.8 - Italiener (Kavallerie, Askari - 5 Figures)

Nr.9 - Italiener (Infanterie - 8 Figures)

Nr.10 - Italiener ( Artillerie, Handgranatenwerfer - 5 Figures)

Nr.11 - Italiener (Caproni-Flugzeug, Askaris - 5 Figures)

Nr.12 - Italiener (Infanterie, Askaris - 8 Figures)

Nr.13 - Italiener (Tank, Handgranatenwerfer - 6 Figures)

Nr.14 - Italiener (Tank, Infanterie - 6 Figures)

Nr.15 - Italiener (Stab, MG, Infanterie - 5 Figures)

Soldaten Bilderbogen Series (30 sheets)

Small sheets, approximately 20.5 x 15.5 cm in size, inscribed "Soldaten-Bilderbogen" (Soldiers' Picture Sheets), unnumbered. I am not familiar with all the motifs. Almost all of the known sheets depict the Austrian Federal Army in its uniforms between 1933 and 1938. I added the numbers to make them easier to distinguish.

1 - 2.5D Modell, 2 Kleinpanzer

2 - 2.5D Modell, Feldkanone und Haubitze

3 - 2,5D Modell, LKW mit Besatzung

4 - 2.5D Modell, Dragoner - General, Offizier, Trompeter (3 Figures)

5 - 2.5D Modell, Dragoner (3 Figures)

6 - 30cm Mörser, Minenwerfer, M.G.Abteilung (3 Figures)

7 - Langkanone, General, Generalstäbler, Alpenjäger im Angriff (5 Figures)

8 - Feldkanone im Gefecht, Maschinengewehr feuernd, Jäger im Angriff (4 Figures)

9 - Tank, Alpenjäger im Angriff (4 Figures)

10 - Österr. Kavallerie im Angriff (4 Figures)

11 - Infanterie (10 Figures) - including Officer, Drummer, Enlisted ranks

12 - Infanterie (10 Figures) - including Officer, Trumpeter, Enlisted ranks

13 - Infanterie (10 Figures) - including Officer, Standard-bearer, Enlisted ranks

14 - Infanterie (10 Figures) - including Enlisted ranks

15 - Musikkapelle Parade (12 Figures)

16 - General, Alpenjäger im Angriff (9 Figures)

17 - Alpenjäger im Angriff (10 Figures)

18 - Englische Kolonialarmee, Schotten, Garde (11 Figures)

19 - Italienische Infanterie (8 Figures)

20 - Italiener, Infanterie, Askari (8 Figures)

21 - 30?

(Neue) Soldaten Bilderbogen Series (13 sheets)

Small sheets, approximately 22 x 16 cm in size, inscribed "Soldaten-Bilderbogen" (Soldiers' Picture Sheets), numbered with roman nummerals (I - XIII). All of the known sheets depict the Austrian Federal Army in its uniforms between 1933 and 1938. 

I - Infanterie Parade (14 Figures)

II - Tank, Haubitze, Jäger (3 Figures)

III - 30cm Mörser, Minenwerfer, M.G.Abteilung (3 Figures)

IV - Bespannung für Feldkanonen und Haubitzen, M.G.Abteilung (10 Figures) Double-size printed sheet

V - Flieger, Alpenjäger im Angriff (6 Figures)

VI - Haubitzen Kraftwagen, Minenwerfer (2 Figures)

VII -

VIII -

IX - Feldkanone im Gefecht, Maschinengewehr feuernd, Jäger im Angriff (4 Figures)

X - Dragoner (4 Figures)

X A - Dragoner, Offizier (4 Figures)

XI - Jäger im Angriff, Alpenjäger im Angriff (11 Figures)

XII -

XIII -

-number unknown (cut-off) - Musikkapelle Parade (probably 12 Figures)

Abadie Bilderbogen Series (number of sheets unknown)

Small sheets, measuring approx. 22 x 16 cm, bearing the inscription "Abadie-Bilderbogen" and numbered with Roman numerals. All known sheets depict scenes from the American Wild West. Based on the known numbers, it is possibly also a continuation of the "Soldaten-Bilderbogen" (Soldiers' Picture Sheet) series.

XIV - Indianer (7 Figures)

XV - Mustangs, Cowboys, Indianer, Büffel (5 Figures)

XVI - Cowboys (6 Figures)

Abadie series of individual cards (number unknown)

Small, double-sided printed cards in various formats. The front displays the name of the country and the specific design; "Abadie" is printed on the back. Different figures are known for some designations. I will add the designations known to me here, but for the time being, you can find images of the figures in the posts under "Abadie-Einzelfiguren".

Deutschland

Infanterie, Handgranatenwerfer, Kavallerie, Schwere Feldhaubitze, Tankschütze, Kraftrad

England

Lancashire Füsilier, Welch Regiment (Paradeuniform), Marine-Infanterie, Seaforth Hochländer, Offizier, Kamelreiter, Leichte Feldkanone, Motorrad

Frankreich

Linien-Infanterie, Linien-Infanterie (Felduniform), Kolonialtruppe, Alpenjäger, Maschinengewehr, Kavallerie (Feldausrüstung), Haubitze, Flugzeugabwehrgeschütz, Motorrad, Tank

Italien

Linien-Infanterie, Bersaglieri, Kavallerie, Artillerie, Motorradschützen mit Maschinengewehr

Tirailleurs Algèriens - Fischbach No.4

 Hello,

After presenting the Fischbach catalog just a few days ago, I thought I’d simply continue with these lovely figures.

Here are two well-preserved officers from Fischbach Set No. 4—the Algerian Tirailleurs, or *Turcos*. Unfortunately, these are the only two figures I have from this set. I hope to add more soldiers to their ranks at some point in the future.

The total height of the figures, including their kepis, is 9.5 cm.

Best regards,

Andreas

Gustave Fischbach, Strasbourg

 Hello,

Today, I would like to add a new "category" to my blog: the "Catalog."

In this section, I will attempt to compile a list of all the motifs I am aware of for each specific manufacturer (or a particular series). Whenever I come across new information or images, I will add them to the list.

I am kicking things off today with the French manufacturer, Fischbach.

Gustave Fischbach acquired the Silbermann printing house in Strasbourg from the son of the late Gustave Adolphe Henri Silbermann and, in 1873, began printing his own paper figures. The figures appeared on a total of ten sheets and were entirely dedicated to the French Army, depicted in the uniforms of 1872. All of the figures were drawn by Alfred Touchemolin and printed using oil-based inks (a technique that had previously been employed by Silbermann). The sheets typically measured 33 × 43 cm (for the infantry) and 50 × 35 cm (for the cavalry). The series designation, numbered from 1 to 10, was located in the upper left corner; the captions for the individual figures were printed in both German and French. The series was distributed between 1873 and 1914.

ARMÈE FRANCAISE - Französische Armee.

No.1 - INFANTERIE - Infanterie

No.2 - ZOUAVES - Zuaven

No.3 - CHASSEURS A PIED - Jäger zu Fuß

No.4 - TIRAILLEURS ALGÈRIENS - Turcos

No.5 - HUSSARDS - Husaren

No.6 - CHASSEURS A CHEVAL - Berittene Jäger

No.7 - ARTILLERIE A CHEVAL - Berittene Artillerie

No.8 - CUIRASSIERS - Kürassiere

No.9 - CHASSEURS D'AFRIQUE - Afrikanische Jäger

No.10 - SPAHIS - Spahis

Deutsches Heer - Gebirgsjäger, Scholz' Künstlerische Soldatenbögen Nr.50

 Hello,

I haven't shown anything at all from the German Reichswehr or the Wehrmacht this month yet! That is why, today, I have selected this beautiful print sheet by Josef Scholz for you. 

It bears the number 50 and depicts soldiers of the German Mountain Troops. Given the absence of the Edelweiss sleeve and cap badges, these figures were almost certainly drawn before the end of 1939. In addition to the soldiers—shown in combat and mountaineering poses—the sheet also includes three pack animals. These appear to be two mules and a Haflinger. Both types of pack animals are still utilized today by the Bundeswehr's Mountain Troops, as they are capable of transporting supplies across terrain where any vehicle would fail.

Best regards,

Andreas

Punic Wars - ABC

 Hello,

Today, I’m once again showing you a few figures from antiquity. They come from the Czechoslovak youth magazine ABC. The theme is the Punic Wars, and alongside Republican Romans and Carthaginians, one of the famous war elephants is, of course, a must. The figures were illustrated by Premysl Kubela.

Best regards,

Andreas

Musique d'Infanterie - Marcel Vagné No.540

 Hello,

Today, I am showing you another sheet by Vagné. 

It bears the number 540 and depicts an infantry band. While I don't know much about military bands, the variety of these figures fascinates me. I would interpret the uniform as the model dating from between 1879 and 1899.

Best regards,

Andreas

Luxuspapierfabrik Berlin - Infanterie Regiment v.Forcade

 Hello,

Today I’d like to show you a group of figures from my latest find of figures by the Luxuspapierfabrik Berlin. I have finally managed to acquire a "Schürer" box set of the "Army of Frederick the Great." While the figures are not entirely complete and some are damaged, much of the damage can be repaired—and I have the nice box; that’s a start!

The Forcade Regiment (properly *Forcade de Biaix*) was later assigned the number 23 in the Prussian order of precedence and took part in many battles of the Seven Years' War—including such famous engagements as Rossbach, Leuthen, and Zorndorf.

Best regards,

Andreas