B. Wilmsen, Philadelphia

Bernard Wilmsen (1857-1948) stayed in America in about 1883 while on leave from the Prussian army. He settled in Philadelphia was employed by the Schwarz Brothers. The Brothers owned toy stores of which F. A. O. Schwarz was the best known.

Wilmsen established his own business, B. Wilmsen and Co. as a tinsel maker. His business expanded as he went into the Christmas ornament field. Wilmsen’s business with Frank Woolworth was indeed impressive. Between 1880 and 1939 the Woolworth stores sold more than $25,000,000 worth of Wilmsen’s Christmas tree ornaments.

B. Wilmsen sold one series of books which used its honeycomb tissue paper in the pop up illustrations. The books were actually printed in Germany. The publication date of these books is unclear. An estimate is sometime between 1880 and 1900.

Triumph Edition by Anonymous

Wraps. Book specific multicolored cover illustration.
Multiple pop-ups with tinsel are noted within the books. 11” x 7.5”