Ida Rentoul Outhwaite Collection at Spirt of the Ages

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite Collection

As you make your way through this page, you will have the opportunity to consider the more than 70 vintage images

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite's contributions to The Enchanted Forest, The Little Fairy Sister and Fairyland.

Throughout the pages that follow, we have shown images optimised for reproduction in a variety of formats. We consider

those to be among the larger formats that allows the accurate reproduction of form and colour as prepared by Ida Rentoul

Outhwaite and published in the 1st Edition plates. To reproduce the images, we have utilised a high definition capture and

reproduction technique. Purchasing one, or more, of those reproductions is a simple as clicking on the "Add to Cart" buttons

and following the prompts provided for PayPal purchase.

We have also developed a range of Giftware that includes images reproduced on cards, infants' clothing, T-shirts and

unmatted, matted or framed prints (8x6", 10x8", 12x10", 15x10" and 30 x 20" images sizes). Pricing starts at US$4 for single

Gift Cards (US$18 for select packs of 6) and 10 x 8" prints (double-matted and framed) begin at US$60. Further details

on those reproduction images are available at the Giftware section of this site.

Should you wish to discuss an order, please contact us at ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com referencing your request

with the Stock Code of the plate, or plates in question and a brief description.

In the meantime, enjoy browsing our selection of genuine vintage and antique plates.

The Arwork of Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite (1888-1960) was the first Australian illustrator to achieve international fame - and her fame

was deserved with wonderfully whimsical images of fairies (often to be found playing with kookaburras, koalas and

kangaroos).

Outhwaite's first illustration was published by The New Idea in 1904 when she was just 15 years of age - it accompanied

a story written by her older sister, Annie Rentoul. In the years the followed, the sisters collaborated on a number of

stories. Following her marriage to Grenbry Outhwaite in 1909, too, she collaborated with her husband - most notably

for The Enchanted Forest (1921) The Little Fairy Sister (1923) and Fairyland (1931). In a number of cases, her children - Robert, Anne, Wendy and

William - served as models for her illustrations.


One of 16 colour images	One of 14 monotone images

The Enchanted Forest is a collaboration between Outhwaite and her husband, Grenbry - a man whose business

acumen may have contributed significantly to his wife's success. For The Enchanted Forest, for example, Grenbry

is known to have subsidised the printing costs with his own contribution of £400 to ensure high quality reproduction

of his wife's illustration. In addition, he ensured that the royalties from this title were consigned to the Red Cross -

a decision that ensured Vice-Regal patronage.


One of many colour images	One of many monotone images

The Little Fairy Sister is a further collaboration between Outhwaite and her husband, Grenbry, and was published two

years after the success of The Enchanted Forest.

Outhwaite's designs - in both colour and monotone - are superb with wonderful representations of various occupants

of the fairy realm and an inspired infusion of Australian native fauna and flora.


One of 16 colour images	One of 31 monotone images

Fairyland was published by A& C Black, Ltd in 1931 as one of the most lavish of their luxury editions. It was

produced in an oversized format - pages were 33 x 25cm (10 x 8") - leather bound with gilt decoration and

edging to each page and included 47 significant illustrations (16 were in colour accompanied by a further

31 full-page monotone images) by Outhwaite.