Scholz' Künstlerische Soldatenbogen - Wehrmacht Serie

 Hello,

Today I would like to present some new research findings.

I am currently working on, among other things, a catalog of the printed sheets produced by Joseph (Josef) Scholz of Mainz. While doing so, I came across an interesting order list in the holdings of the Mainz City Library.

Since it will likely be quite some time before I publish the complete catalog, I would like to offer a brief glimpse into the "Wehrmacht Series" here.

In his book *Paper Empires*, Rafael de Francisco López published a list of Scholz sheets from the Wehrmacht series that did not align with the information I had gathered on the subject.

Here is the list from *Paper Empires*:

No. 37 – Deutsche Reichsmarine

No. 40 – Feuernde Artillerie

No. 42 – Vorbeimarsch einer Traditionsfahnenkompanie

No. 43 – Vorbeimarsch einer Infanterie-Kompanie

No. 44 – Auf dem Exerzierplatz

No. 45 – Rekrutenvereidigung

No. 46 – Panzerwagen

No. 47 – Motorisierte Aufklärungsabteilung

No. 48 – Flak-Artillerie (Geschütz in Feuerstellung) 

I had previously noticed that some of these sheets also exist with different titles—sometimes featuring identical figures in different arrangements, yet bearing the same numbers from this list!

The discovered order lists confirm that Scholz apparently reused some of the numbers repeatedly.

Since these lists also indicate which numbers and designations were newly introduced to the product range in 1939 and 1940, I would like to present them here in their original form.

The 1939 list shows five sheets as new issues; three of them (Nos. 38, 44, and 45) presumably bear numbers that had already been assigned previously.

The 1940s list brings us three more new items. These sheets, too, were not filed after the existing No. 50, but rather before the sheets already listed. This means that these three numbers (Nos. 35 to 37) had also been existed previously.

The 1941 list shows the sheets from the previous year, without any additions. I assume that no new plates were published after that point.

Unfortunately, these lists remain silent on who drew these figures.

But who wouldn't like to order 100 of these plates for 9 Reichsmarks today? 😁

To summarize, here is an overview of what I know so far about the Scholz sheets from the Wehrmacht series.

Nr.35 Infanterie auf dem Vormarsch (new 1940, listed 1940, 41)

Nr.36 Infanterie im Angriff (new 1940, listed 1940, 41)

Nr.37 Deutsche Reichsmarine

Nr.37 M.G.-Schützen und Infanteriegeschütz (new 1940, listed 1940, 41)

Nr.38 Fallschirmjäger (new 1939, listed 1939-41)

Nr.39 Kavallerie (listed 1939-41)

Nr.40 Feuernde Artillerie (listed 1939-41)

Nr.41 Luftwaffe (listed 1939-41)

Nr.42 Vorbeimarsch einer Infanterie-Kompanie mit Musik

Nr.42 Vorbeimarsch einer Traditionsfahnenkompanie (listed 1939-41)

Nr.43 Vorbeimarsch einer Infanterie-Kompanie (listed 1939-41)

Nr.44 Auf dem Exerzierplatz

Nr.44 Panzerabwehrabteilung in Feuerstellung (new 1939, listed 1939-41)

Nr.45 Rekrutenvereidigung

Nr.45 Schwere Artillerie in Feuerstellung (new 1939, listed 1939-41)

Nr.46 Panzerwagen (Tanks) (listed 1939-41)

Nr.47 Motorisierte Aufklärungsabteilung (listed 1939-41)

Nr.48 Flak-Artillerie (Geschütz in Feuerstellung) (listed 1939-41)

Nr.49 Pioniere (new 1939, listed 1939-41)

Nr.50 Gebirgsjäger (new 1939, listed 1939-41)

If anyone has further information (or would like to sell me 100 Scholz sheets - or less of it 😄 ), I would appreciate it if they got in touch with me.

Best regards,

Andreas

Updates

Abadie Catalog: I have added a total of 7 new plates.

Best regards,

Andreas

Seaforth Highlanders - Luis Reyes, Madrid - Victorian Soldiers No.VII

 Hello,

Here is another loose plate from the Luis Reyes series on British regiments under Queen Victoria.

I only recently managed to get hold of a copy of the portfolio from the second series. That brings my collection to 12 of the 16 plates that were released. So, you can look forward to seeing more (not just) Redcoats.

Best regards,

Andreas

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