Flora’s Feast: A Masque of Flowers
Botanically correct flower-adorned characters as created and penned by Walter Crane.
Walter Crane (1845-1915) was an English artist and book illustrator, particularly noted for his illustrations for children’s books. In one of his most famous works, Flora’s Feast: A Masque of Flowers, Crane’s line drawings of botanically correct flower-adorned characters were washed in with watercolour. Italian art was one of Crane’s major influences, while Crane himself came to be revered by the Arts and Crafts movement in England. In this set, the courts, aces and Joker carry his illustrations. On the reverse, the initials “FF” stand for Flora’s Feast and “CC” for the original publishers of the book, Cassell & Company. See the box
Above: Flora’s Feast: A Masque of Flowers boxed set published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT, for Winterthur Museum & Gardens, Winterthur, DE, USA, c.1998. Printed by Carta Mundi, Turnhout, Belgium. 2 x 52 cards + 1 Joker (same in each pack) + 1 title card (same in each pack) + 1 extra card with biographical details about Walter Crane (different in each pack) in black plastic tray with cardboard sleeve. Size: 57 x 89 mm. The way the cards are presented is more reminiscent of Fournier's packaging than Carta Mundi's.
Zoom the extra card
On the reverse, the initials “FF” stand for Flora’s Feast and “CC” for the original publishers of the book, Cassell & Company.
The Winterthur Museum and Library has important holdings of Crane’s illustrated works including several rare editions.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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