Reproduction Parrish Illustrations Sold In New Book

One of the largest sources of reproduction Maxfield Parrish illustrations are the various books which show his work. The most confusing of these have been so called "poster" books which have large 11" X 16" pages. Illustrations are printed in full color on one side of the page only which gives the appearance of an original print if removed from the book.

The first large Parrish poster book was published in 1974 and included 23 full color illustrations. Removed from the book and framed, these pages are often mistakenly or deliberately sold as period pieces.

In 1994 a similar item, The Maxfield Parrish Poster Book was printed and released. The 1994 book has 29 color illustrations printed on one side of the 10 1/2" X 14" pages. Many illustrations in this book have not been made as modern reproductions before and are listed below.

The new illustrations can be identified by measuring the image size and by using black light. Sizes for reproduction illustrations from the 1994 book are listed in this article. Measuring illustrations also helps you avoid buying "cropped" pieces. Cropping is the cutting or trimming of an image to fit a frame. Cropped images lower an vintage illustration's value as much as damages do and should be avoided.

Many, but not all, of the illustrations in this latest book show surface cracking picked up in photographs of the now aged original paintings (Figs. 1-2). Obviously, when the original paintings were first used for magazine covers, original prints, calendars, etc., they were new and in excellent condition. It is illogical to see cracks and signs of aging in illustrations supposedly made at or near the same time as the paintings were completed.

All the poster books we have examined also fluoresce bright white or bright blue-white under long wave black light. No pre-1950 Parrish illustrations on paper we know of--such as a print, magazine cover, book page, etc., fluoresces.

A list of titles and measurements of illustrations in the newest Parrish Poster Book appears below. The first number is the width; the second number is the height. Measurements are based on image area and do not include margins or borders.

Sinbad Plots Against the Giant
repro size 8 1/8" X 9 3/4"

Ecstasy
repro size 8 1/4" X 11 3/4"

Contentment
repro size 8 1/2" X 13 3/4"

Venetian Lamplighter (Mazda)
repro size 8 1/4" X 13 5/8"

King of the Black Isles
repro size 8 1/4" X 11"

Dinky Bird
repro size 8 3/8" X 11 3/4"

Egypt (Mazda advertisement)
repro size 8 1/4" X 14"

Enchantment of Cinderella
repro size 8 1/2" X 10 1/2"

Garden of Allah
repro size 14 1/4" X 7"

Stars
repro size 8 1/2" X 14"

Prometheus (Mazda)
repro size 8" X 13 1/4"

Air Castles
repro size 8 1/2" X 12 1/4"

Manager Draws the Curtain
repro size 8 1/2" X 10 1/2"

White Birch, Winter
repro size 8 1/4" X 10 1/4"

Wild Geese
repro size 8 1/4" X 11 1/4"

Cadmus Sowing the Dragon's Teeth
repro size 8 1/4" X 10 1/2"

Land of Make Believe
repro size 8 1/4" X 10 1/2"

Daybreak
repro size 13" 1/4 X 7 3/4"

Harvest
repro size 7" X 9 3/4"

Canyon
repro size 8 1/4" X 11"

Millpond
repro size 8 1/4" X 10 1/4"

Poet's Dream
repro size 8" X 13 1/4"

Jason & His Teacher
repros size 8 1/4" X 10 1/4"

Alphabet
repro size 8 1/4" X 13 1/4"

Jason & His Teacher
repro size 8 1/4" X 10 1/4"

Griselda
repro size 8 1/4" X 10 1/2"

Milkmaid
repro size 8 1/4" X 13 1/4"

Prospector
8 3/4" X 9"

Lantern Bearers
repro size 8 1/2" X 10 1/2"

The End
repro size 8 1/8" X 10 1/4"

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Figs. 1-2 Close up photos of illustrations in a new poster books. Note the age cracks. Vintage prints, magazine covers, etc. were made shortly after the original oil paintings was completed. Over the years, original paintings age and crack. New photographs of the old paintings capture the cracks which then appear in current paper reproductions like those in new poster books.

Fig. 3 Alphabet
repro size 8 1/4" X 13 1/4"

Fig. 4 The End
repro size 8 1/8" X 10 1/4"

Fig. 5 Poet's Dream
repro size 8" X 13 1/4"

Fig. 6 Milkmaid
repro size 8 1/4" X 13 1/4"

Fig. 7 Griselda
repro size 8 1/4" X 10 1/2"

Fig. 8 Prospector
repro size 8 1/4" X 9"

Fig. 9 Lantern Bearers
repro size 8 1/2" X 10 1/2"

Fig. 10 Jason & His Teacher
repro 8 1/4" X 10 1/4"

Fig. 11 The Manager Draws the Curtain
repro size 8 1/2" X 10 1/2"