BARKER, Cicely Mary

"Where there are flowers, there fairies are!."

Cicely Mary Barker is perhaps best known for her delightful illustrations of fairy children dressed to represent flowers.  Fairies had become a popular theme in the first part of the 20^th century, heightened by the interest of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the illustrations of Ida Rentoul Outhwaite.  Her first book, Flower Fairies of the Spring, was published in 1923, this was quickly followed by Flower Fairies of the Summer and Flower Fairies of the Autumn, although there was no companion volume for the winter season. Over the following four decades Barker produced numerous titles in the same vein, her fairy verse and paintings being both charming and botanically accurate, providing children with an entertaining way to learn about flora and the seasons.

At the same time her devotion to the Christian church led her to produce many religious-themed works, illustrating charming little books of children’s prayers and hymns.  

Please scroll down to see our current stock of first editions and signed copies by Cicely Mary Baker.