History

The audience for the first movable books were adults, not children. The first movable mechanics appeared in a book on astrology as early as in 1306. However, it was not until the 16th century that the first printed movable books appeared, such as the Petri Apiani Cosmographia (1540), the Astronomicum Caesareum (1540), the Astronomique Discours (1557) and the Coelestium Corporum (1603). In the following years, also the medical and engineering professions used this format for scientific instruction, illustrating many anatomical and technical books with layers and flaps showing the human body or machines. In the first half of the 20th century, these books lost their popularity as educational appliances for both students and laymen.

It was not until the great advances in book illustration and production in the 18th century, that the focus of movable books turned to entertainment for children.