Weird Islands (1921)

Illustrated by Jean de Bosschère

On the left, we show Weird Islands (1921) - as written and illustrated by Jean de Bosschère and co-published by Chapman and Hall Ltd (London).   This example retains the original black-stamped blue cloth cover.                 To the right, we show the illustrated Title Page prepared by de Bosschère.

Weird Islands (1921) is a novel written and illustrated by Jean de Bosschère.

The Foreword to the tale by Jean de Bosschère provides a lovely introduction to the story and his personal approach to

writing and illustrating Weird Islands. Given his innovative approach to the tale, it is little wonder that Weird Islands was

greeted with contemporary critical acclaim as noted in The Burlington Magazine (1921) thus:

The pictures by Jean de Bosschère in Weird Islands, 12s. 6d. (Chapman & Hall), will appeal

to more children than those of any of the other books.

Jean de Bosschère's suite of illustrations to accompany his words for Weird Islands include the full colour frontispiece, in

addition to 44 full-page monotone plates and a large number of monotone marginal illustrations.

Our Greeting Cards and Reproduction Images

For connoisseurs of the work of Jean de Bosschère, we have prepared sets of 44 Greeting Cards displaying the major monotone illustrations from his contribution to Weird Islands and on the left, we show an example of how these Greeting Cards appear.             Code: JB WI CS(44) Price: US$220.00

When presented on Greeting Cards, these images are prepared as tipped-in plates - in hommage to the hand-crafted

approach typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century. Each card is

hand-finished and the images are presented on White card stock with an accompanying envelope. The rear of each

card carries information about Jean de Bosschère, this wonderful suite and the profiled illustration - we have left the

interior of the cards blank so that you may write your own personal message.

Should you wish to order a Reproduction Print of one or more of these images, we have provided some options below.

Each of these large format prints is also accompanied by information about Jean de Bosschère, this suite and the profiled

illustration.

To purchase, simply click on the appropriate "Add to Cart" button and you will be taken through to our Shopping Cart

secured through PayPal. Multiple purchases will be consolidated by that feature and shipping and handling costs to any

destination in the world are accommodated by our flat-rate fee of US$20 for every US$200 worth of purchases.

Of course, should you wish to discuss some customised options, we welcome your contact on any matter through

ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com.

In the meantime, enjoy perusing these images from Jean de Bosschère.

The colour frontispiece

Full Image	The Ten Travellers     Single Greeting Card Code: JB WI C1 SGC Price: US$5.00	Detail (for reference)
	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI C1 (12x18) Price: US$60.00

The full-page monotone illustrations

The Aeroplane, the Submarine, the Blue Boat and the Airship   (Presented as a Diptych)		To throw Stones at them	The Arrows return to their Owners with their Prey   (Presented as a Diptych)
A pair of reproductions on 12x18" sheets Code: JB WI M1|2 (12x18) Price: US$120.00		Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M3 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	A pair of reproductions on 12x18" sheets Code: JB WI M4|5 (12x18) Price: US$120.00
His Saw passed through the Hoof without leaving a trace	Darkened the chain of Islands with its Shadow   (Presented as a Diptych)		The Lion was showing his Teeth, but the Chimera had longer claws
Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M6 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	A pair of reproductions on 12x18" sheets Code: JB WI M7|8 (12x18) Price: US$120.00		Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M9 (12x18) Price: US$60.00
(I) Flute began to play (II) Cod, the Captain (III) Peter, the Fiddler (IV) The Friend and Drum (V) Sun-and-Moon and Bing (VI) The Boatman and the Whales   (Presented as a Heptaptych)
Six reproductions on 12x18" sheets Code: JB WI M10|11|12|13|14|15 (12x18) Price: US$360.00
Fired into the Air	A big Giraffe with a horn spoke	They are asleep, replied the Pigwing, smiling   (Presented as a Diptych)		Make the Bridge firm and steady
Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M16 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M17 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	A pair of reproductions on 12x18" sheets Code: JB WI M18|19 (12x18) Price: US$120.00		A pair of reproductions on 12x18" sheets Code: JB WI M20|21 (12x18) Price: US$120.00
Cut the cord the held Cod's body	Their red eyes shone like fire	Through the Box and the Four Passengers into the Air	At the right side of each of the men sat a row of sons	Those are the Distributors of Water	Little Horn of Leaves which covers their Faces
Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M22 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M23 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M24 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M25 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M26 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M27 (12x18) Price: US$60.00
All that could be seen from above   (Presented as a Diptych)		Like a Donkey carrying Baskets	The Extraordinary Length of our Two Friends	The Foremost Chariot drew up to our Door   (Presented as a Diptych)
A pair of reproductions on 12x18" sheets Code: JB WI M28|29 (12x18) Price: US$100.00		Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M30 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M31 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	A pair of reproductions on 12x18" sheets Code: JB WI M32|33 (12x18) Price: US$120.00
Built up with Blocks	Strange-looking Creatures	It was at once drawn upwards	The Cyclops were building	The Aeroplane rose perpendicularly   (Presented as a Diptych)
Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M34 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M35 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M36 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M37 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	A pair of reproductions on 12x18" sheets Code: JB WI M38|39 (12x18) Price: US$120.00
The Carpenter and the Gilded Cock	The Drummer and the Head of the Marionette	Peter produced the Flower	The Friend had the Seven Little Fans	Melinda wearing the Cap
Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M40 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M41 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M42 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M43 (12x18) Price: US$60.00	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: JB WI M44 (12x18) Price: US$60.00

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Jean de Bosschère's Foreword for Weird Islands

I heard this fantastic story for the first time on a summer evening, and I wish to share at once the pleasure that it gave me

with others, of all ages and of all tastes. I must confess, though, that when I had once begun re-telling it, I thought more

of the pleasure that it  was giving myself than of the pleasure that it would give to others. But we al know that the joy we

take in contemplating any work of art must be measured by the joy that went to the artist's creation of it. And certainly

the Weird Islands has given me long weeks of genuine happiness. I wish it could have been there to help me while I

worked, and while my friend improvised on his violin tunes as curious as Stravinsky's, and while my little green parrakeets

nibbled at my brushes.

In re-telling these adventures, I did not adopt the form of a novel, because in that shape it would have taken six volumes

to describe Weird Islands, and because I was able to employ another means of description - drawing, which can show

immediately people and objects in a way that it would take several pages to describe. Until to-day, no one has attempted

to combine these two mediums in a precise and absolute manner. This is not a book in which the drawings repeat and

illustrate what the text has told. Here, the author, when it seemed more suitable for the story, has described characters

and objects by a drawing; reserving writing to convey impressions, sentiments, anger, melancholy, sadness, surprise and

joy or the impatience of the  people concerned. And thus the adventures and scenes are told by the drawings as much by

the text. Each is the complement of the other. That is the real character of these stories. Weird Islands was never conceived

without the drawings.

I know that this method would not suit a novel, where the main interest lies in the development of characters and incident.

But it is as natural as it is amusing in a story where the scenes are constantly changing, and where the interest is found

particularly in what the queer people, at every step, meet in the way of unexpected creatures and objects, fabulous islands,

conciliating and wicked monsters, and creatures who are comic or poetical. I had to show the ten travellers whose voyage

had been recounted to me, to show their costumes, their faces, their weapons, and their musical instruments. And so I drew

ten faithful portraits (since psychology was not concerned, nor symbolism, nor allegory, nor philosophy). When one of the

people met a strange animal, or the Silent Island, or the Island of Long Women, or cannibals, or the building Cyclops, I have

made drawings of these creatures instead of giving a long description of them.

It is a legitimate method. Can we not imagine Æsop telling his fables with drawings as well as words; Apuleius tracing on his

tablets images of his metamorphoses; Maundeville recounting his voyages with manuscripts covered with sketches. The

interest invoked by such a book is not easily exhausted. It is not necessary to read it again to derive pleasure from it. It is

enough to turn the pages; the images impress themselves on the memory. Weird Islands, is not, of course, perfect of its kind,

perfect that is in comparison with what it might be, with the ideal book which would by like a familiar room, full of

souvenirs, curious and strange and tender. Souvenirs and portraits that one could look at and touch at leisure; souvenirs and

portraits that, touched or looked upon, would evoke memories of emotions, pleasures and curiosities; souvenirs and

portraits which each time one saw them would reveal their mystery a little more.