THE “GRAPHIC” CHRISTMAS NUMBER

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XV, 7 October 1899, Page 632

THE “GRAPHIC” CHRISTMAS NUMBER

A UNIQUE PRODUCTION. The “Graphic” Special Christmas number for 1899 will be published next week, and may now be ordered from all stationers and the “Star” runners. Like its predecessors, it will be a high-class art production, and will be considerably larger in size than these were. For many months past the issue has been in hand, and neither time nor money has been stinted to make it in every respect the best Christmas annual issued in these colonies. The proprietors feel certain that the result will amply justify the high expectations which past Christmas numbers have led the public to entertain with regard to this publication. . The leading features of the number will be artistic reproductions of New Zealand scenery and colonial life, beautifully illustrated Maori legends, pictures appropriate to the celebration of the Christmas season here in New Zealand, a number of first-class tales of colonial adventure, and other attractions. In addition, there will be given away with the number a magnificent coloured plate, 31in by 22in, well entitled to take rank as

THE PICTURE OF THE YEAR. The “Graphic,” in its past Christmas numbers, has been very happy in the choice of its coloured supplements. The pictorial maps of the North and South Island, which were published with the Christmas “Graphics” of 1897 and 1898, found their way into tens of thousands of New Zealand homes, where they still occupy a place of honour on account both of their beauty and usefulness. Thousands were sent to the Old Country and America, and did more, we believe, to spread a knowledge of the colony and create an interest in it than scores ofvolumes of mere description could have done. In the choice of a subject for ths picture of 1899 the proprietors believe they have secured one that will be even more popular with the public than anything issued in the past has been. In this plate are brought together a collection of THE NATIVE FLOWERS OF NEW, ZEALAND such as has never before been reproduced. The “Graphic” had a special artist engaged on the original oil painting, which is the sole property of the journal, and the reproduction from it was executed in the lithographic department of the “Star” and “Graphic” Office. The plate is A TRIUMPH OF COLOUR PRINTING, the natural hues of the flowers being portrayed with a brilliancy and faithful adherence to the original tones that makes the picture a genuine work of art. The native flowers of New Zealand are singularly beautiful, and there are many of them; yet it is astonishing how few people who are aware of the indigenous floral wealth of the colony. Most people on looking on the “Graphic” picture will be disposed to confess that they never imagined New Zealand could boast such a collection of gorgeous blooms. For the past few days copies of this picture have been on exhibition, and on account of it alone, without reference to the magnificent Christmas number to which it is only an accompaniment, orders for supplies are pouring in from town and country. Evidently there is a strong desire on the part of the public to possess fol’ themselves, or to send to their friends in England, this superb representation of the flowers of our forests. In order to avoid any possible disappointment our readers will do well to give their orders to the stationers at once, ’ The price of the’.Christmas number, with the presentation plate included. Will be One Shilling.