Collection of publications, prints and original artwork by the illustrators Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone acquired by Betty and Anthony Reid, admirers and personal friends of the illustrators. The collection consists of an almost complete set of books illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone; an almost complete set of greetings cards designed by the twins; a complete run of 'Finding Out' magazine and several 'Robin' annuals, publications to which the sisters contributed illustrations; six original gouache paintings by the sisters; original pencil drawings and sketches, mostly military, by Anne Grahame Johnstone; dufex prints of some of the twins' paintings; some personal correspondence from the twins; and various ephemera. The collection constitutes an unbroken sequence of the twins' work, whether as original artwork or published material, from about 1951 to 1999. The collection also includes the typescript of an unpublished book by Betty and Anthony Reid, the originators of the collection, which gives a brief overview of their relationship with the twins and a more in-depth critique of their work. This typescript also gives a detailed history of how the collection was developed over the years, and where material came from.
The collection is arranged into nine series - Illustrated books; Greetings cards; Magazines; Paintings; Drawings; Dufex prints; Press articles; Miscellaneous; and 'Gems in Unfathom'd Caves': unpublished book by Betty & Anthony Reid. This system of arrangement is based on that used by the Reids, and no alterations have been made to their original arrangement. All series, file and item titles given in inverted commas are those used by the Reids to organise the material. Further information on the contents of each series can be found at series level in the catalogue.