6" (15 cm.) l. x 4"h. A heavy card paper box with green and teal paper covers, lid edged in embossed gilt centering an engraved image of a columned and curtained stage and name "Petit Theatre En Action" opens to reveal the stage platform and slotted base for insertion of backgrounds and persons, and a myriad of paper elements designed for playing theatre, each with beautifully engraved images including the curtained stage front, 2 backgrounds (each with side panels allowing various dimensional effects), 22 tiny die-cut people on paper strips with names inscribed below (and 5 additional paper strips with characters missing), 2 die-cut furnitures, and four different scripts for various plays that could be enacted (the names of die-cut people match the names of characters in the plays). The plays were acted by placing the characters on slotted base and moving their paper strips back and forth. Excellent condition except as noted. French, circa 1850, an extraordinary early miniature theatre that is beautifully designed and preserved.