For 75 years Children's Playmate was just that. A playmate. From 1935 to 2008 (when it merged with Jack and Jill) it had kids thinking, drawing, clipping, making and thinking. These issues from the glory days give only a small indication of the beauty. Each issue was at the time digest-sized and 50 pages.
The artist was Fern Bisel Peat. She was born in 1893 and lived until 1971. She made a good living. but as with most women artists of the past, information is far more scarce than it should be. Fern could show you how to carve a pumpkin or draw an easter egg in the most charming and colorful manner. An unsung hero of commercial and educational art. Her work has been reproduced in a few places over the years, but as far as I know there has never been a retrospective, a comprehensive (or even cursory) biography or a museum exhibit.
Her work, in addition to providing extraordinary colorful covers to the magazines above, is often found on tin lithographed toys, puzzles and more. Because the magazine had a large circulation, original issues are available for small sums...despite them often being cut-up and written on as intended!
Issues of Children's Playmate 1938-1941 Collection Jim Linderman
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Love these wonderful, colorful & nostalgic illustrations.
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I especially like the January cover of the kids fanning the snowman so he won't melt.
ReplyDeletewin a puppy contest - wonder how that worked out...
ReplyDeletePaper doll collectors prize FBP cut-outs.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to find info on Fern Bisel Peat. I am an antiques dealer and about 2 months ago I cleaned out about 5 suv's full of "junk" for a lady. In it was the child's book "The Bird Book" by Frank North Shankland and illustrated by Fern. I love her colorful, beautiful drawings of birds so I checked the web to find out more and "lo and behold" (as my grandmother used to say) I found this web site with the info to fill in my blank spaces. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteGreat...and thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to write. It is, and was, my pleasure. Jim
ReplyDeleteI have original watercolors by Fern Bisel Peat of birds.....have been trying to locate picture from the book "The Bird Book" by Frank North Shankland and illustrated by Fern to see if any of the watercolors I have are in the actual book.. All the sites I have found so far with this book show no pictues of any of these birds. Where would one look to find the pictures of the illustrations of birds?? Thank you
ReplyDeleteI found a lithographed bank recently which had the name of Fern Bisel Peat on the side and decided to see if I could get any information on the artist to help me identify its value. Thanks so much for your biography. It is shaped like a drum with a drawing of a Mexican boy and piggy banks. It is just adorable.
ReplyDeleteShe did the illustrations of Humpty Dumpty on the Ohio Art tin dishes sets for children in the 30-40's.
ReplyDeleteColored illustrations from The Bird Book include: Cardinal, Baltimore Oriole, Blue Jay, Robin, Bobolink, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Bluebird, Red-headed Woodpecker, House Wren, Yellow Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, Barn Swallow--all very lovely. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteI have just discovered my mother's 1937 copy of Rag-Doll Jane written by Carolyn Treffinger and fell in love with the illustrations done by Fern Bisel Peat. So beautiful and with vibrant colours.
ReplyDeleteI have the Shankland book with the illustrations---The Bird Book. The illustrations are beautiful. Is this book of value?
ReplyDeleteI found a copy of Little Black Sambo written by Helen Bannerman and illustrated by Fern Bisel Peat several years ago .I took it home and put it in plastic bag . I still have it .
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for providing information about this artist! I have seen her work on vintage toys and children's books but never knew anything about her.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank YOU Curly
ReplyDeleteHi: Just purchased "The Animal Caravan" with illustrations by Peat for a museum exhibition in 2016. Do you know where Peat was born, where she lived, anything more about her? Thanks, Susan
ReplyDeleteI found a reference to Frank Edwin Peat. He arranged and wrote music books and she illustrated them
ReplyDeletehttps://www.richlandsource.com/2023/05/14/fern-bisel-peat-touched-children-of-the-world-from-bellville/
ReplyDeleteLived in Belleville Ohio in Richland County, supported the family. Beechwood Farm. https://www.richlandsource.com/2023/05/14/fern-bisel-peat-touched-children-of-the-world-from-bellville/
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