Lee & Shepard Co. and for a number of years were printed, re-printed, and finally grew out-of-print. About the collection: As a young girl, Linda Mumew Ruskoski, didn’t much like to read. So when the Bookmobile came to her second-grade classroom she searched for books with nice illustrations, and spotted the book ‘Miss Flora McFlimsey’s Christmas Eve’. She relates, “After dinner, I sat in the living room
Flora undressed.
and began to read this special story about a doll that had been relegated to the attic and forgotten. Then, thanks to Santa, she began life anew...I loved pouring over all of the accessories on the pages. It has always been one of my favorite illustrations. I can’t tell you how many times that little book was read and reread.” And Linda began a life-long love of reading. At that time, her father worked in offices at the Plaza Hotel, near FAO Schwarz where the children’s books were sold and each time a new Miss Flora McFlimsey book was published it was added to her book shelf. Years later, Linda relates “I decided to write Mariana a letter, sharing with her that I did not like to read until I discovered her books. Well, Mariana wrote me back! We became friends! .... Spending time with her was incredibly special to me. She was so modest and humble, like Flora”. During the coming year, Linda determined that the books must be reprinted, and began a dedicated drive to that end. The anecdotal details of that project are outlined in hand-written correspondence
her illustrations”. In addition, Mariana had given to the young teacher a
from Mariana.
number of her hand-colored artworks. As for the books in this collection, they are all the childhood property of Linda Mumew Ruskoski, cherished
Only one year later, in 1978 Mariana died. Shortly before her
these many years, except for the book “Hotspur” which has a hand-drawn
death, a large box arrived at Linda’s home. “Carefully, I opened
image on the inside front page and the message “A Merry Christmas from
the package and inside was the doll, Miss Flora McFlimsey, a
Hotspur, To Linda, Mariana”. The dolls, artwork, and books have been in
smaller Flora and a French fashion doll name ‘Mamselle’....
the private possession of Linda Ruskoski until this time, and are exceptional
Mariana had made the two Flora’s herself to use as models for
documentary and poignant ephemera of one woman’s work. $2000/3000
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