The glimmering processions of the masked gods and bearded kings of New Orleans Carnival occupy a central position among the rites and glories of this great festival. The fantastic costumes of Carnival's Golden Age (1870-1930) illustrated themes drawn from mythology, epic literature, history, nature, and whimsy. Often presented at masked balls with a predominant theme, the costumes ranged from the royalty of fantasy lands to largely-drawn representations of all manner of animals, minerals, and vegetables. This collection contains dazzling examples of original costume designs as rendered in watercolor and lithographs--most of them reproduced here for the first time. These high-quality, color reproductions are suitable for framing. The Mardi Gras Treasures series celebrates the artists and artisans of New Orleans Carnival who often toiled in anonymity. Though much of their executed designs has been lost, the designs themselves represent significant artistry and are collected in this series with a book and companion notecard and postcard packages covering various aspects of this exuberant celebration of the beginning of Lent.