1934 First Edition- A Bunch of Wild Flowers illustrated by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

Author: Ida Rentoul Outhwaite.
Title: A Bunch of Wild Flowers.
Publisher: Australia, Angus & Robertson Limited, 89 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, 1934. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9.5" x 7".
Pages: 48 pages.
Binding: Attractive and near fine original tan boards binding with blue illustrated titles and design (hinges fine - as shown), preserved under its very good original cream dust jacket with hand-colored floral vignette (light foxing - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Good to Very good content (bright, tight and clean, some light foxing mainly to the endpapers and outer pages' edges - as shown).
Illustrations: Wonderfully illustrated throughout by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite with delicate full-page color plates and numerous detailed black-and-white drawings, both vignette and full-page. All illustrations are present and intact.

Estimate: (USD 350–450).

The book: A charming and scarce 1934 first edition of A Bunch of Wild Flowers, a whimsical collection of illustrated verses that celebrates the delicate flora of the Australian landscape through the lens of fairy lore and childlike wonder. Outhwaite pairs each native flower—like the Milk Thistle, Dandelion, and Wild Violets—with a corresponding poem, frequently accompanied by fairies, sprites, and woodland creatures. A wonderful example of Outhwaite’s unique ability to blend the botanical with the fantastical, capturing the imagination of both young and adult readers.

The author: Ida Rentoul Outhwaite (1888–1960) was one of Australia’s most beloved children’s book illustrators and authors. Known for her ethereal fairyland scenes and delicate Art Nouveau sensibility, she gained international acclaim in the early 20th century. Her works, which often drew upon Australian myths, flora, and fauna, are cherished today as classics of children’s illustration and are highly collectible. In A Bunch of Wild Flowers, Outhwaite’s artistry is at its lyrical and visual best, combining poetry and illustration with exquisite finesse.