Fairy Fantasy Art Cards and Postcards

I've been asked if I'm a postcard collector. Well...yes & no....

I am a primarily a collector of fairy art. In particular, I love the art of early 20th century artists. It just so happens that postcards and cards are a great source of fairy art. I also enjoy collecting antique and vintage children's books of fairytales. Swedish fairytales are a favorite, filled with princesses, trolls and tomte, as are Victorian-era fairytales from the United Kingdom and Australia.

My own postcard / greeting card collection is a mixture of antique, vintage, modern out-of-print and current postcards and greetings cards, with a few modern prints thrown in for good measure. I also have tipped in illustrations from old books that were beyond saving.

Why not stick with just vintage and antique items? They're more valuable aren't they?

While it's certainly possible to build collections that are very valuable, you should take time to decide just what your passion is. What are your goals? Is it your main focus to create a valuable collection? Maybe you enjoy history or gathering bits of the past. If so, then collecting purely antique items may be the right thing to do.

While vintage items can be very expensive, there are some great reasons to collect antique and vintage art. There is a certain magic to collecting bits of the past. To the vintage postcard collector, the "flaws" one might find in antique & vintage postcards make vintage postcards so appealing. Bumped corners, creases, discoloration and fading may speak of a little piece of art that was enjoyed and handled often. Messages written on the backs of vintage postcards give you a glimpse into the hearts and the lives of the past century.

The bottom line regarding reproductions is that they are often less expensive than antique items, the colors clear and bright, the art is pristine, as is the condition of the card, postcard, etc.. I may purchase several reproduction postcards for the price of one vintage postcard. One drawback to collecting newer postcards is that they may be harder to find. Postcards used to be a popular way of communicating, but with all the modern forms of communication available now, sending postcards has almost gone by the wayside. Few publishers are printing postcards, much less fantasy postcards.

For me, it's all about the art. I collect the things I do for the pure joy I feel when looking through my collection. I look for items in which the art is intact and the colors clean & bright.

There is no right or wrong to collecting. It doesn't matter if the item that makes you smile is new or old, in mint condition or "well loved". What's important is that you collect the things that speak to you.

Okay, so you love fairies, tales of King Arthur, and all things that whisper of magic and imagination. Perhaps you want to know more about the fabulous turn-of-the-century artists who illustrated children's books and postcards. Where on earth do you start? These books are on my bookshelf and are filled with lots of great information! Enjoy!

If you find these items unavailable, you might try searching eBay or a book collecting site such as Alibris.com

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite's enchanting fairies grace the pages of many an Australian book.

Here is a link to a very detailed review of Ida Outhwaite's works:
Ida R. Outhwaite Life Works

Also, this link will connect you to the auctions of a fellow eBay seller who offers a fabulous selection of rare and vintage Ida Outhwaite items. Enjoy!

Please scroll down to view a tiny sampling of Outhwaite's enchanting fairies.

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite (1888 - 1961)
Australia

Elsa Maartman Beskow (1874-1953) was one of Sweden's most loved children's authors and illustrators. For over one hundred years Swedish children have grown up with her books. She drew her inspiration from nature, the changing seasons, childhood adventures, and a bit from her own life experiences.

Moon Fairy by Amelia Jane Murray













Bud's Art Books
This is an amazing website! Here you will find an incredible selection of books representing the art and biographies of fairy/fantasy artists from the past through to the present. You will also find books related to every genre of art imaginable! Prepare to spend a few hours here!

From the website homepage:
Founded in 1970 by renowned illustration & comic art expert Bud Plant, our flagship Incredible Catalog has evolved from its roots, growing to include all forms of great visual art, and now bears the name Bud's Art Books. Here you will find the very best of the visual arts. A unique and diverse collection representing the past, present and future. And of course, Bud's trademark service from a great staff who share your passion for great art!
http://budsartbooks.com - Home Page

To go directly to Bud's fairy/fantasy page:
http://budsartbooks.com - Fantasy

Art Passions
An enchanting, non-commercial site filled with fairy art by the masters. From the home page: "Art Passions is primarily about artists and illustrators whose works I grew up with. I encourage you to explore this site and learn about the works of Arthur Rackham, Gustave Dore, William Morris, Aubrey Beardsley, Edmund Dulac, Kay Nielsen, Adrienne Segur, Sulamith Wulfing, Warwick Goble, the Preraphaelites and others. "
http://www.artpassions.net

Artsycraftsy
Source for fairy art prints.
http://www.artsycraftsy.com

Faerie Forlorn Lands
From the homepage:
"This site is dedicated to the lore of Faerie, not particularly to the whimsical, popularized sprites of the common imagination, but to the strange and mysterious legends which lie beneath that friendly facade." You'll find enchanting fairy fonts, poetry, art and free stuff.
http://www.ragnarokpress.com

The Scriptorium
Another great place to find an amazing selection of enchanting fonts!
http://www.fontcraft.com/

Notions & Potions
http://NotionsandPotions.com

Lucia's Garden
http://luciasgarden.com

FeminineLiving.com
http://FeminineLiving.com

Stephanie Pui-Mun Law
http://shadowscapes.com

David Delamare
http://daviddelamare.com

James Browne
http://jamesbrowne.net

Kinuko Y. Craft
http://kycraft.com

Design Toscano
http://designtoscano.com

Fairy Coloring Pages at Pheemcfaddell.com
Artist Phee McFaddell's website of fairy coloring pages.
Perhaps you'd love to be able to draw fairies, but when it comes down to putting pencil to paper, you're all thumbs. No problem! This website offers lots of fairy coloring pages to choose from! Just choose your fairy, print it out, and let your imagination soar! Thanks to lensmaster Michellepatelle for introducing me to this website!
http://www.pheemcfaddell.com/PageColoringProjects.htm

Fairy Dust by Mary Baxter St. Clair

Here is a wonderful lens about building your own fairy houses!
Fairy Houses