The Mystery Series.

[pete9012S]

Yes, good observations Splodj. I agree with you.
These are the covers I grew up with. I thought I would compare them with the originals:


1966 Dragon, illustrations by Mary Gernat, cover by Peter Archer.

Not bad. It definitely looks like a small cottage/workroom is ablaze and Goon's authoritative demeanour is well depicted in my opinion.



1973 Dragon, illustrations by Mary Gernat, cover by Paul Wright.

Fairly good for a 70's cover. Is that Daisy? Hard to read what she's thinking from her facial expression, but I never realised you can actually see into the Secret Room a little on this cover!

This next one from 1963 is just before my time - but I think it's a good cover for a paperback?


1963 Armada, illustrations by Joseph Abbey, cover by Dorothy Brook.

Sadly, I can't say I have saved the best till last unless anyone wants to debate the merits of this 1977 offering??


1977 - Illustrator: John Cooper.

Mmmm.. Strange one that. Is the girth of the sourpuss P.C now starting to receive the P.C. treatment???

[pete9012S]

Here's two from the 1958 card game - illustrator uncredited - not bad!





https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... ind+Out%21+" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Anita Bensoussane]

It's good to see the different illustrations, Pete. There's a lot of action and colour in most of the depictions, which is fitting for stories that are so full of drama and fun.

[Lucky Star]

I think pretty much all of those are fine with the exception of the 1977 offering depicting Goon as some sort of slinky wraith-like figure. As Anita said they have plenty of colour and excitement to them which is appropriate for the exciting stories within. The 1966 Dragon editions are also the ones I grew up with. They are all fairly good and the preceding Armada editions are lovely too.

[John Pickup]

The Armada cover of Burnt Cottage from 1963 is my favourite. This was the first series of Enid's that I could afford to buy with my meagre pocket money. I loved all the covers though, they were so enticing. The only problem I found with the early Armada editions was the pages were prone to come away from the binding.

[Matthew Roberts]

I have a fondness for the paperback illustrations as well, as these were the versions I grew up reading. It was interesting seeing the artwork, pete9012S. I like Charles Stewart’s illustrations a lot.

[Irene Malory Towers]

also have the FF mystery series - which my brother bought for my 50th (oops revealing my age) and that was not yesterday either. I just looked at the other cards illustrated and the Pantomime cat card is really rather eerie !
I have just taken a piccie of it but I am not sure how to download it here.

[pete9012S]

Is it this one Irene?
Regards

Pete


https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... ind+Out%21+" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Boodi 2]

Wow, I agree, that is very eerie!

[Irene Malory Towers]

Yes thanks Pete it is that one. And your photo is better than mine as mine was rather shaky. How do you post photos or pictures onto this website anyway. I hovered my mouse above the Img button but could not do the next step of downloading it from my PC.

[Anita Bensoussane]

I'm afraid pictures have to be uploaded to a picture-hosting site first, Irene (Imgur or similar). The relevant image tags can then be copied and pasted into your post.

Pete has used a picture from our Cave of Books. To use an image from the Cave you just right-click on it, left-click on "Copy image address", paste the image address into your post, highlight it and then click on the "Img" button above your post.

[Jack400]

Wow, I agree, that is very eerie!

Frankly that picture could give children nightmares!

[Courtenay]

It definitely doesn't look like the kind of cute and fun cat costume I imagined while reading the book! I probably would have been a bit scared of that picture as a child.

Mind you, I must admit I find this one a bit amusing (from the same card game) — in which Goon looks like he's possibly experimenting with being "Theophila"...

[pete9012S]

Frankly that picture could give children nightmares!

I agree Jack.
I think there's a foreign language edition with a scary cat on the cover too - the cover escapes me for the moment.
I'm sure somebody here will remember it!

[Jack400]

Well, I'm glad that some of you agree. I did " fear"/wonderthat it might just be my impression. But it seems to me that it takes one of my favourite FFO books and ruins it.