1950 Rare Pop-Up Edition - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May
Author: Robert L. May. Illustrated by Marion Guild.
Title: RUDOLPH The Red-Nosed Reindeer. The Complete Story with Pop-up Action Pictures.
Publisher: New York, NY: Maxton Publishers, 1950. Copyright 1950 on the title page, First American edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: oblong 10.5 " X 8.5 ".
Pages: 20 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good original pictorial card covers in bright red, featuring Rudolph leading Santa’s sleigh on the front and a large portrait of Rudolph on the rear cover (spiral spine) (overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. A well-preserved and colourful example of this fragile mid-century pop-up classic.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight, and clean - as shown, complete with all five pop-up scenes intact and fully functional, including Rudolph’s snowy village, his discovery by Santa, and the triumphant Christmas Eve flight. A few small areas of typical light creasing and mild handling marks, else remarkably fresh and bright - as shown).
Illustrations: Illustrated and engineered by Marion Guild in full color, with charming 3D pop-up designs that vividly animate May’s timeless Christmas story. (Complete).
Estimate: (USD 300 - USD 700).
The book: A delightful and complete vintage pop-up edition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, based on Robert L. May’s 1939 story that became a cornerstone of American Christmas folklore. Published in 1950 by Maxton Publishers, this first edition brings the classic tale to life through vibrant color lithography and cleverly constructed pop-up scenes that unfold with nostalgic mid-century charm.
Each spread depicts a moment from Rudolph’s journey — from his early teasing by the other reindeer to his heroic night guiding Santa’s sleigh through the fog. The bright palette, soft airbrush style, and playful compositions evoke the cheerful optimism of postwar American design. A lovely collectible that bridges holiday nostalgia with the golden age of pop-up publishing.
The author: Robert Lewis May (1905–1976) was an American copywriter for Montgomery Ward who, in 1939, created the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as a Christmas promotional booklet. The story’s unexpected success led to over two million copies distributed that first year and spawned a global cultural phenomenon — including songs, films, and books that continue to define Christmas imagination.
The illustrator: Marion Guild, a talented mid-century designer and illustrator, crafted the dynamic pop-up engineering for this Maxton edition. Her playful visual storytelling perfectly complements May’s rhyming narrative, blending warmth and wonder in every page. Her work on Rudolph remains one of the most endearing examples of 1950s American pop-up artistry.