This week, Rediscovered Realms opens the storybook vault for brave seekers of beauty and wonder. Long before modern fantasy took root, H.J. Ford’s pen conjured enchanted forests, noble heroes, and spellbound maidens across the pages of classic fairy tale collections. Join us on a visual quest through a sampling of line art legends - each image a portal into forgotten realms of ink and imagination.
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This Week’s Rediscovered Realms Theme Song:
Inspired by the enchanted illustrations of H.J. Ford, this original song is a lyrical tribute to forgotten fairy tales and the magic inked into every line. Let its melody guide you through shadowed grace, dreaming knights, and storybook wonder.
Meet the artist behind the magic: H.J. Ford (1860–1941)
Just a heads-up before we journey into the story of the artist: the illustrations you’ll see here are only a glimpse - 14 of my favorites from the hundreds H.J. Ford conjured over his storied career. Fear not, fellow adventurer - many more will appear in future editions of Rediscovered Realms!
H.J. Ford (self portrait)
Born in London during the age of gaslamps and gothic novels, Henry Justice Ford wasn’t your average lad - he grew up in a large family where cricket bats and classics shared equal shelf space. His brother played for England, but H.J.? He had a different sort of bat in mind - one with wings, lurking in the pages of a fairy tale.
After acing his classical studies at Cambridge (yes, that Cambridge), Ford took a sharp turn toward the fantastical, training in fine art at the Slade and Bushey Schools under master illustrators of the time. While others chased facts and figures, he chased dragons, knights, and magical forests - armed with ink, a keen eye, and an imagination as deep as a storybook well.
Sindbad flying on a Roc . . . or is it Frodo?
From 1889 to 1910, Ford became the visual heartbeat of Andrew Lang’s beloved Fairy Book series - The Blue Fairy Book, The Green Fairy Book, and many more. These volumes gathered tales from all over the world, and Ford filled their pages with over 400 stunning illustrations: gallant heroes, enchanted maidens, grim witches, and beasts straight out of legend. Every line he drew seemed to open a hidden door to some forgotten realm.
Check out some other golden age classic black & white fantasy art from “Famous Fantastic Mysteries” Magazine in this Rediscovered Realms issue from the vault:
His work didn’t stop with Lang. Ford illustrated The Arabian Nights, a school history written by none other than Rudyard Kipling, and even drew a map for J.M. Barrie’s The Little White Bird, complete with a design for Peter Pan’s original costume. Not bad for a guy who started out as a Latin scholar.
Your next piece of fantasy fun is calling.
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Later in life, Ford married Emily Amelia Hoff, and together they adopted a daughter. Though he lived through the turn of the century and two world wars, his art never lost that old-world sparkle - each piece feels like it could have been pulled from a hidden scroll deep in a wizard’s library.
Oh, and by the way: If you like black & white fantasy ink illustrations, then you need to check out the interview and follow-up newsletters we did with modern-day fantasy artist, Luke Eidenschink!
H.J. Ford passed away in 1941, but his legacy lives on in every enchanted scene he left behind. His art isn’t just something to look at - it’s something to journey through.
Whether you grew up tracing fairy-tale borders or are just now discovering the magic in monochrome, these forgotten illustrations still cast a powerful spell. Let them remind you, Bold Adventurer, that even in a world of color, the right lines can still lead us to wonder.
Which of H.J. Ford’s illustrations speaks to your imagination most—and why? Let us know in the comments below!
"The old fairy tales which a silly sort of people disparage as too wicked and ferocious for the nursery, are really 'full of matter,' and unobtrusively teach the true lessons of our wayfaring in a world of perplexities and obstructions." — Andrew Lang, author of The Green Fairy Book (1892)
You can find books with H.J. Ford’s illustrations on Amazon:
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Inkbound Realms [Verse 1] In a dusty book of emerald thread Where dreams sleep soft and legends tread I turned the page and time stood still A forest bloomed, a faerie willed [Chorus] Oh, inkbound realms of line and lore Where heroes rise and monsters roar Forgotten art, yet ever true Your magic draws me back to you [Verse 2] A knight stands tall with shield and flame A tower echoes a secret name The witch, the wolf, the silver stream— All born again from black-inked dream [Chorus] Oh, inkbound realms of line and lore Where dragons sleep and maidens implore In every stroke, a world anew I walk your paths, both old and true [Bridge] These pages hum with silent song Of battles lost and rights made wrong A thousand tales behind each eye— The ones who dared, the ones who tried [Chorus – final] Oh, inkbound realms of shadowed grace You draw the heart to another place Where fairy winds and legends flew... And wonder waits with joys anew
My 2 RPGish cents: some time ago I found a great resource on DrivethruRPG. It is a bestiary for OSR systems based on H.J. Ford artworks! Its digital version is free of charge and it is really inspiring! (Pls note: I am nor related neither affiliated with that title)
My 2 RPGish cents: some time ago I found a great resource on DrivethruRPG. It is a bestiary for OSR systems based on H.J. Ford artworks! Its digital version is free of charge and it is really inspiring! (Pls note: I am nor related neither affiliated with that title)
May the fun be always at your table!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/it/product/258394/ford-s-faeries-a-bestiary-inspired-by-henry-justice-ford
Amazing stuff! I love those illustrations.