EDWIN JOHN PRITTIE: IIlustrations for Children Books

Edwin John Prittie (1879 - 1963) was an American illustrator of children’s books and classics for the John C. Winston publishing company of Philadelphia between the years 1906 and 1932. He was also the exclusive cover artist for Comfort Magazine of Augusta Maine throughout the 1930’s. He ended his illustrating career as primary artist on Gum Inc.’s “Horrors of War” and “Lone Ranger” series chewing gum cards 1938-1942. His works are signed: E.J.P., EJP as a monogram in a circle, E.J. Prittie, Edwin J. Prittie, and Edwin John Prittie.

He was born in Gouverneur NY on July 11, 1879, where he was raised. He attended the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art in 1898, remaining in Philadelphia where he spent his career as a freelance artist. He also held a second home in Oswego NY where he died February 20, 1963 at the age of 84.

During his tenure with Winston, the artist illustrated text and reference books, 14 major works and classics, and numerous youth series. His credits include Edward Ellis' boys' adventures, the Twighlight Animal Series (i.e. Geo. Walsh's "Bumper the Rabbit" books), and the classics Alice In Wonderland '23, Robin Hood '23, Black Beauty '27, Joan Of Arc '30, and Gulliver's Travels '30.

 Frontispiece

***

Frontispiece

 

***

 Frontispiece

***

Frontispiece

Edwin John Prittie: Illustrations to MARY FRANCIS STORY BOOK, 2nd part

Endpapers

Edwin John Prittie: Illustrations to MARY FRANCIS STORY BOOK, 1st part

Edwin John Prittie (1879-1963): American Illustrator

Edwin John Prittie; taken May 16, 1909

From 1901 to 1942 he illustrated many children’s classics for the John C. Winston publishing company of Philadelphia. 

 Mary Francis Story Book; Fryer 1921
Alice in Wonderland 1923
Robin Hood; Harvey 1923
The Bible Stories Book; Fryer 1924
Grimm’s Fairy Tales 1924
Story of a Bad Boy; Aldrich 1927
Black Beauty; Sewell 1927
The Little Lame Prince/Adventures of a Brownie; Mulock 1928
Wings of Flame; Egan 1929
The Nurnberg Stove; De La Ramee 1929
Joan of Arc; Holmes 1930
Gulliver’s Travels 1930
Betsy Ross – Quaker Rebel; 1932

He ended his illustrating career as the primary artist on Gum Inc.’s “Horrors of War” and “Lone Ranger” chewing gum card sets 1938-1942.

Horrors of War

 Twenty naked Chinese nationalists

 charged Japanese positions

 Bomb kills passengers on
Shanghai Trolley

 Panay Machine
Gunners Fight Back

 Human Hands Warn Newspaper
Publishers

Chiang Kai-Shek
Commanding His Troops

The Horrors Of War series was complete by the end of 1938.

The “Lone Ranger” series, published in 1940, comprised 48 cards. This was one of the most
famous chewing gum card sets ever printed, and its artistry has been highly praised by
collectors. The images look more like quality book illustrations than trading card art, and
bear obvious stylistic markers to Prittie (with Remington influence).

 The Underground River

 A Piece of Gingham

“The Lone Ranger Rescues Joan at the Pit” (from large-sized “premium” card)

A silver bullet stops a hanging

Mary Francis Story Book