A beautifully illustrated German travel adventure book from the 1920s–1930s featuring Tim's adventures across Australia and New Zealand, published by Margarine-Union AG of Hamburg as a premium promotional book with original colored collector cards.
This book is part of a larger tradition of European corporate premium publications — margarine companies gave these away as gifts and incentives to build brand loyalty.
The illustrations and collector cards made them treasured keepsakes for young readers chasing dreams of faraway places and adventure.
Details
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Item: Hardcover promotional travel book
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Title: Australien Neuseeland (Australia New Zealand)
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Subtitle: Tims Abenteuer im Land der trockenen Flüsse (Tim's Adventures in the Land of the Dry Rivers)
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Publisher: Margarine-Union AG, Hamburg
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Era: circa 1920s–1930s
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Language: German
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Format: Hardcover with yellow cloth boards and pictorial covers
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Pages: 71 pages
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Illustrations: Hand-colored throughout featuring Australian and New Zealand landscapes, Indigenous peoples, maps, and regional detail
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Special Features: Includes original colored collector cards (Sammelbilder) meant to be mounted into pages — not complete, book is sold AS FOUND
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Measurements: 12.25 in × 9.5 in × 0.5 in
Condition Grade: Good
Positives
- Bright cover boards with vibrant original color and detail intact
- Sturdy spine and binding still secure
- All 71 pages present and readable
- Hand-colored illustrations remain vivid and clear throughout
- Collector cards mostly intact with original mounting tabs
Issues / Wear
- Pages show yellowing consistent with age — not surprising for 90+ year old paper
- Minor wear to cover boards and edges, some rubbing visible
- Slight aged smell typical of vintage books from this era
- One collector card is missing from the set — documented as AS FOUND condition
- Interior shows light foxing in places as expected for the age
See all photos for detail — sold as pictured.
Condition Grade Key
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Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
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Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
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Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
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Fair: Shows significant wear. Readable or usable but clearly used.
Collector's Notes
Margarine-Union AG of Hamburg created these illustrated adventure books as premium giveaways in the 1920s and 1930s — a time when brand-building through meaningful gifts was the cutting edge of marketing. Every book was meant to spark the wanderlust of German children dreaming of distant lands and exotic places.
This copy is treasured by collectors of German ephemera, vintage travel books, historical toy promotions, and anyone drawn to the adventure stories and artistic sensibilities of early 20th century Europe. The hand-colored illustrations of Australia and New Zealand capture the European fascination with the mysterious far south.
The missing collector card keeps this copy more affordable for collectors who appreciate the book's history and beauty without requiring pristine completeness — a good entry point into this category of vintage German promotional literature.
A remarkable window into how companies once built loyalty through dreaming.
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Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece—please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
Care and Handling:
Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40–50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
