1910 Scarce Book with original Box - Flower Children Illustrated by M.T. Ross
Author: Elizabeth Gordon. Illustrated by M.T. Ross.
Title: Flower Children: The Little Cousins of the Field and Garden.
Publisher: Chicago, P.F. Volland & Company, 1910 (Fifth Edition, stated).
Language: Text in English.
Size: Box: 9.5 x 6.5 inches.
Pages: Unpaginated.
Binding: Fine publisher's original illustrated hardcover binding in cream boards, with a vibrant full-color pictorial cover featuring flower children in a garden archway (hinges fine - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. Housed in the scarce and very good original publisher’s box, which is clean and sturdy—an exceptional survival of this delicate and charming packaging (gift note of a previous owner at the back of the box - as shown).
Content: Near fine content (bright, tight and clean - as shown).
Illustrations: Lavishly illustrated with full-page color plates by M.T. Ross. Each flower child is presented in costume alongside a short poetic verse, and the illustrations are complete, vibrant, and full of character. Decorative floral elements are interspersed throughout the text.
Estimate: (Scarce with no or few other early copies with the original publisher's box available for sale worldwide).
The book: Flower Children is one of the most enchanting examples of early 20th-century children's nature books, blending poetry, personification, and botanical charm. Elizabeth Gordon’s gentle verses pair perfectly with M.T. Ross’s whimsical illustrations, presenting each flower as a playful child in costume. Designed to educate and delight, this book was part of a movement to foster appreciation for nature in young readers. This 1910 fifth edition, especially preserved in its original box, is a highly desirable copy for collectors of Volland publications and illustrated children’s books.
The author: Elizabeth Gordon (1866–1922) specialized in children’s books that emphasized the beauty of the natural world. Her works, often centered on animals, flowers, and fairies, were designed to entertain while nurturing empathy and environmental awareness in young minds. Flower Children remains one of her most celebrated creations.
The illustrator: M.T. (Mary Theodora) Ross was a prominent illustrator whose style became synonymous with early Volland titles. Her ability to transform botanical elements into endearing childlike figures brought Gordon’s vision to life and has continued to captivate generations. Her work in Flower Children showcases delicate linework, soft coloring, and imaginative composition—hallmarks of the Volland aesthetic.