The Sentry and the Shell Fairy (1924)

 

Illustrated by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

 

 

 

The Sentry and the Shell Fairy is a wonderful example of Outhwaite's illustrations being

tailored to promotional material for an Oil company (the produced of Shell Oil) that,

itself, was dressed in the guise of a fairy story.

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Cover of ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924), illustrated by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

On the left, we show a rare copy of The Sentry and the Shell Fairy

produced for The British Imperial Oil Company Limited in or

about 1924. This example retains the original colour and gilt-stamped

grey card cover.

 

The colour illustrations for this booklet were produced by

Patterson, Shugg Pty Ltd (Melbourne) while printing was

performed by Anderson, Gowan Pty Ltd (Melbourne).

 

The tale is set in Egypt and revolves around an ANZAC Sentry and his interactions with the local fairies - wherein he is given the "secrets of the Pharoahs", that is, the secret behind the technology for building the pyramids. That secret, of course, turns out to be "precious oil" which can be bought through a Shell supplier. Fortunately, the whimsical story progresses without overt marketing until the final page and even then, the pitch is presented in such a quaint manner that it is entertaining in itself:

Thus was given to Australia and New Zealand the secret which the

whole world has searched for, the knowledge how to destroy Friction -

that enemy of power.

 

Your Daddy may not know that he can to-day buy that same precious

oil used by the Shell Fairies. So, next time you are motoring with Daddy,

tell him about the Sentry and the Shell Fairy and remind him to be sure

and ask for:

MOTOR

SHELL                         OIL

  LUBRICATING

The use of this wonderful Oil will make his car run much more smoothly,

and you will all be as happy as that ancient, wise and just Egyptian Ruler.

On the right, we show the closing page

of The Sentry and the Shell Fairy.

 Final page of ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924), illustrated by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite
 

 

Our Greeting Cards and Reproduction Prints 

 

 

Greeting Card sample showing image from an illustration for ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924), illustrated by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

For connoisseurs of Outhwaite's work, we have prepared sets of 6 Greeting Cards displaying each of her major colour images for The Sentry and the Shell Fairy and on the left, we show an example of how these Greeting Cards appear.

 

 

 

 

 

Code: IRO SSF CS(6)
Price: US$30.00

 

 

 

When presented on Greeting Cards, these images are prepared as tipped-on plates -

in hommage to the hand-crafted approach typical of prestige illustrated publications

produced in the early decades of the 20th Century. Each card is hand-finished and

the images are presented on Ivory card stock with an accompanying envelope. The

rear of each card carries information about Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, this wonderful

suite and the profiled illustration - we have left the interior of the cards blank so

that you may write your own personal message.

 

Should you wish to order a reproduction print of one or more of these images,

we have provided some options below. Each of our Fine Art Posters is prepared

with archival quality papers and inks - and also accompanied by information about

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, this suite and the profiled illustration.

 

To purchase, simply click on the appropriate "Add to Cart" button and you will be

taken through to our Shopping Cart secured through PayPal. Multiple purchases will

be consolidated by that feature and shipping and handling costs to any destination

in the world are accommodated by our flat-rate fee of US$20 for every US$200

worth of purchases.

 

Of course, should you wish to discuss some customised options, we welcome your

contact on any matter through ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com.

Fine Art Poster sample showing image from an illustration for ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924), illustrated by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

 

An example of our Fine Art Posters

in a superb 20x30" format

 

In the meantime, enjoy perusing these wonderful examples of the art of Ida Rentoul Outhwaite.

 

 

The full colour illustrations

 

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite - 'The Queen of the Shell Fairies with some of her Fairy Attendants' from ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924) Ida Rentoul Outhwaite - 'The banks of the Nile were very fertile, giving forth corn and other needs' from ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924) Ida Rentoul Outhwaite - 'To-morrow night your enemy will be destroyed' from ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924) Ida Rentoul Outhwaite - 'We filled the Shells with a beautiful Oil, brought from across the Sea' from ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924)

The Queen of the Shell Fairies with some

of her Fairy Attendants

 

 

The banks of the Nile were very fertile,

giving forth corn and other needs

To-morrow night your enemy will be destroyed

 

 

We filled the Shells with a beautiful Oil,

brought from across the Sea

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: IRO SSF C1 12x18
 Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: IRO SSF C2 12x18
 Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: IRO SSF C3 12x18
 Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: IRO SSF C4 12x18
 Price: US$60.00

 

 

 
Ida Rentoul Outhwaite - 'At night we sailed forth, each carrying a Shell of precious Oil' from ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924) Ida Rentoul Outhwaite - 'For centuries the Pyramids alone remained a witness of the Glory of Egypt' from ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924)    

At night we sallied forth, each carrying

a Shell of precious Oil

For centuries the Pyramids alone remained

a witness of the Glory of Egypt

 

 

    

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: IRO SSF C5 12x18
 Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: IRO SSF C6 12x18
 Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The colour lithograph

 

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite - Multitone lithograph (Cover artwork) from ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924)    

Cover

Multitone lithograph

 

 

    

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: IRO SSF ML1 12x18
 Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The monotone illustrations

 

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite - one of three monotone illustrations for ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924) Ida Rentoul Outhwaite - one of three monotone illustrations for ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924) Ida Rentoul Outhwaite - one of three monotone illustrations for ''The Sentry and the Shell Fairy'' (1924)

1st Monotone image

2nd Monotone image

3rd Monotone image

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: IRO SSF M1 12x18
 Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: IRO SSF M2 12x18
 Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: IRO SSF M3 12x18
 Price: US$60.00