The Modern Encyclopædia for Children & Nature Lover's Companion

 

I recently acquired an encyclopedia published by Odhams in 1948. The Modern Encyclopædia for Children. I spotted the signature of the image in the bottom right of the page showing 4 portrait images and immediately recognised Raymond Sheppard's style.

These are the four captions:

• Indian Leaf Butterflies, one with folded wings
• Seychelles Leaf Insect blends with the leaves
• Striped Angel Fish merge with water plants
• Ptarmigan's colouring matches the hillside

 But did Sheppard do all four? I could accept the bottom two but the top two?

The good news is I have some -sort of - proof he did. Christine Sheppard kindly sent me sketches and amongst them is this page of both a leaf insect and a butterfly. Interestingly the butterfly has a hint of vibrant cobalt which the published piece does not - the reason I enhanced the colours so you could see it. Indian Leaf Butterflies have those distinctive points to their wings as well as the cobalt colour. 

Leaf Insect + Butterfly (strengthened colours)

 Then we also have another study of a leaf insect.

Leaf Insect study

Amongst the studies I have there are unfortunately no Angel fish of Ptarmigan.

Whilst writing about this single page in a 640 page book, I thought I'd add another book with just one page by Raymond Sheppard as I was looking for ptarmigan images, but unfortunately this is another member of the family!

Nature Lover's Companion, p.65b

 Nature Lover's Companion    

Nature Lover's Companion, cover by Tunnicliffe

This book, also by Odhams was published in 1949. On the colour page opposite page 65, we have this amazing piece showing "Birds of Prey" - including the kestrel, common buzzard, golden eagle (striking down red grouse) Peregrine, Sparrow Hawk (chasing goldfinch), Merlin, Barn Owl, Montague's Harrier (Male), and an Osprey - all in one image! It's a great book with all illustrations being credited for a change - lots of Badmin and Stanley Herbert but only one Sheppard page. 

The Children's Nature Book

This book was also reprinted as The Children's Nature Book in 1958 with the same cover - different title obviously -  and the contents were the same - just the contents pages inverted!

If you want to see more illustrations from The Modern Encyclopædia for Children, have a look at my other blog.