Space Fantasies 1:1: R.F. Collection

Space Fantasies 1:1 R.F. Collection presents 146 space toys from the collection of Rolf Fehlbaum, retired president of Vitra and founder of the Vitra Design Museum.

The format of the book is the result of a 1:1 depiction of objects. Space toys are divided into ten categories and organized in chronological order of production.

The era of space toys began in the 1930s with Buck Rogers’ rockets and spaceships. Most of the objects were produced in Japan between 1950 and 1970. These space toys reflect post-war technological fantasies and the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union in the race to conquer the universe.

Toys for the American market provide insight into the minds of American citizens at the time. Miniature objects range from rockets to funny inventions like space dogs, space elephants and even a space whale.

Thanks to the research of Dirk Gadomski and Gernot Münk, this book provides reliable information on manufacturers, distribution channels and production data. Most of the space toys came from the acquisition of two collections (Peter Grünbaum 1984, Pit Kuhl 2001), complemented by further individual purchases.

“Space Fantasies 1:1” is limited to one thousand copies, numbered and signed by Rolf Fehlbaum and Fifo Stricker. A web link takes the reader to a video showing how the objects work. The book comes with a poster of all the space toys.

Hardcover
42x34cm
296 pages, approx. 270 images