1916 1st Édition Melbourne, rare antique bookplate, “Butterfly Fairy”, Outhwaite, vintage framed art

An antique colour bookplate print by celebrated Australian illustrator Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, from her renowned Elves & Fairies series first published in 1916 (Melbourne), beautifully presented in a dark antique carved timber frame with an ivory mount.

This enchanting composition depicts a delicate butterfly-winged fairy guiding a procession of butterflies through a dreamlike landscape of wildflowers, rendered in soft sepia, amber and dusky rose tones.

52cm x 36cm frame

25cm x 14cm artwork

About the Artist

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite (1888–1960) was a Melbourne-born artist and one of Australia’s most celebrated fantasy illustrators, renowned for her imaginative depictions of fairies, woodland creatures and enchanted landscapes. Beginning her artistic career as a teenager, she gained widespread recognition through her landmark publication Elves & Fairies (1916), created in collaboration with her sister Annie Rattray Rentoul. Her distinctive illustrations achieved international acclaim, with successful exhibitions in London and Paris, and remain highly collectible examples of early Australian fantasy art.