Nativity scenes or manger scenes are a very important part of the Christmas history. They have been created, and still are, all over the world and in any material imaginary. All the nativity scenes in this collection are brought together here, while they are also displayed on their respective “materials” pages.

1/13 – Lead Nativity figures.

These are homecast from Schneider molds, a German company, judging by the colors I think of the 1940s. Casting molds and kits were introduced into the United States from Germany during the early 1900s. Most of these molds can be traced to Grubner Schneider. They were sold, usually in pairs, ref. nos. 124 thru 129, for the three kings, Maria, Joseph, Jesus in the crib, star, three angels, shepherd; the cow, sheep and camel under 39 and 40 with other non-nativity figures; no. 97 the camel with an Arab; donkey no. 219 with a cow.
The two standing kings are from the same mold, but one is painted black which makes it less noticeable; the shepherd and the man behind him, with his reddish flesh color does not fit in, also from the same mold. Some of the bases are green and some brown; maybe from a different set or painted by different children at the same time ???
A search on the internet revealed that the molds have been reissued under the same ref. nos.

Info: http://www.concentric.net/~Richcamp/toymolds.htm
Reissued: http://www.zinnbleisoldaten.com/shop/page/1?shop_param=

Paper variations:

Diorama
The diorama in this collection are all home crafted, usually by beguines and nuns, so I have been told. But I cannot see why they could not have been made by

N37
Fold-out Nativity scene, 5 layers not counting the back.  Red mica behind the comet above the stable, and the moon and stars in the sky in the background. Made of very thick cardboard, and dates from around the early 1900s, judging by the cardboard and the printing.
No mention of country or publisher.
Dimensions: 39,50 x 32,50cm.

This folder includes designs for table and Christmas tree decorations - motives for Christmas menus, napkin holders, lantern and wall decorations – drawings for wooden articles that could be used for Christmas presents – models for nativity scenes. It probably dates from 1940s, as in one of the drawings for a Christmas present the number “194 ” is printed with room left for another number, and I should think from 1 to 9.
There are 9 pages, printed both sides. Four are shown here.
Sheets are 21,5 x 27,5 cm, the folder a bit larger.

Here is a description of various versions I found on the internet,
ref site:
http://www.isbn.pl/A-kubasta-vojtech/A-kubasta-vojtech/S-1000/
a bookshop, so it will not be permanently available and therefore I am repeating part of their description.

Version a)
Illustrated paper boards with blue cloth spine. Front cover depicts an angel holding a flowing banner bearing "Gloria In Excelsis Deo". Lighter colored boards, Kubasta signature printed on the pop-up, "Made in Czechoslovakia" in bold letters across bottom of back board, a purple cellophane window. 32 cm.

Version b)
Illustrated paper boards with blue cloth spine. Front cover depicts an angel holding a flowing banner bearing "Gloria In Excelsis Deo." , a red cellophane window. This copy without the Kubasta signature on the pop-up, darker boards, and a die-cut pattern to the Star of Bethlehem. 32 cm.

Version c)
Gubig 66 illustrates a copy with a red cloth spine (no priority known).

On the other hand I have found three different cover versions: light – middle dark – very dark. The spines also vary in color.

Another deviation between these two is the way the pop-up figures are inserted:

- dark blue above: figures are inserted in slits resulting in parts of the design not showing, such as the stones under the dog, the hat the man is holding and on the right the curled-up dog sleeping.

- light blue left: figures are glued in cut-out fields, showing the stones, hat, sleeping dog.

N35
Booklet  “RELIGIOUS STAMP ALBUM SERIES C” with 15 sheets with 10 stamps per sheet, with two different designs.
On the back it says:
“LITHO IN U.S.A.” and “COPYRIGHT 1942 WM. J. HIRTEN CO., INC., N.Y." (WM = William ?)

Dimensions Booklet: 16 x 9cm

N36 A sheet, with two nativity pictures, on the left Maria and Joseph in front of the stable, and the right the adoration by the Kings; printed in Rome, November 3, 1909, it says according to text at the bottom.
Translation of the Latin text, supplied by Frank Paul:

"The beginning of the Gospel according to John"
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Nazaire Beeusaert

The first set I bought was in Ghent, some 15 years ago, from a person whose parents used to have a toy shop. He still had an invoice from Nazaire Beeusaert, Gentsche Steenweg 19, Deinze, on which he thought the Christmas set was invoiced, dated 1949. On the base of these figures is an impressed mark “NB Belgium”.
I have been able to find the following information on this firm:

From the book “Speelgoed – Made in Belgium”:

Nazaire Beeusaert is known for the production of toys. I have not been able to find when the firm was precisely founded, but in the 1920s and 1930s they produced horses, soldiers, fortresses, farms, ranches and figures for nativity scenes.
The “NB” was first used on soldiers in papier maché. Those produced for the warehouse “Le Bon Marché” were marked “BM”.
Figures for nativity scenes were produced in several formats (I know of at least two). They were marked “NB”. Each series was decorated with the same colors and patterns.

From the Email, received from Archief Deinze:

In 1921 a Mr. N. Beeusaert started a factory, producing cardboard toys.
At present there still is a firm “Beeusaert”, wholesale trade in toys situated in the Ommegangstraat no. 60, in Deinze (Petegem-aan-de-Leie) with its registered office in the Gentse Steenweg 19, in Deinze. So this must be the same firm, still in existence today.

Thanks to:
The above information I have been able to gather due to:
- the kindness of the Communal Archives of the city of Deinze, Mr. F. De Graeve
- the book “Speelgoed – Made in Belgium” by Paul Herman.

Mrs. Beeusaert, the widow of the eldest son of the founder and now an old lady, has been kind enough to confirm that the above is correct.

Recently, Mr. Luc Van Wanzeele, grandson of Nanaire Beeusaert, has written a book on the history of the Belgian toy factory; for information and ordering see his website http://www.vanwanzeele.com/beeusaert/

The two figures on the left have been found separately. The left one is qua paint and decoration similar to the sets above. The right one is somewhat different in coloring and seems to have been done with an airbrush.

Above are three bases with the "NB BELGIUM" mark. The white one is from the shepherd in the photo on the left.. Notice that the base is not painted. The green one is from the old man: notice the hole. All the figures with a green and brown base in the two sets above are marked as the brown one.

None of the baby Jesus are marked, although there is one with the pricing label of the Bon Marché still attached.