This antique color illustration has varied colored mushrooms from the genera Russula and Stropharia. The plate comes from the book Field Book of Common Mushrooms by William Sturgis Thomas, M.D. and published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons of New York and London in 1948. The illustration was done by Mary E. Eaton. The book was originally copyrighted in 1928 and this is the newly revised Third Edition, Ninth Impression. Doctor Thomas was the late president of the New York Mycological Society.

This is Plate XV of the book which measures 6.5” x 3.5” and contains images of six varieties of mushrooms. They are Russula alutacea, Russula emetica, Russula foetens, Russula mariae, Russula virescens, and Stropharia semiglobata. Some of the Russula genuses of mushrooms have a mild and agreeable taste, while others are acrid or peppery. They are all edible and when cooked the hot flavor disappears. The Stropharia genus was originally considered poisonous, but was later found to be edible. However, since its favorite habitat is on dung heaps and its tendency to be slimy, most people find it objectionable. The print is professionally matted in an 8” x 10” baby blue colored matte designed to highlight the mushrooms in the image. Our vintage prints are shipped in a plastic sleeve between cardboard stiffeners to arrive in perfect condition. These are original prints, NOT modern reproductions.

Keep in mind, an antique print will never be “perfect” like a new print and there are sometimes tiny occasional spots and/or discoloring or aging. However, we only sell mint or almost mint prints and will not sell anything that we would not be proud to hang on our own walls!!!