The Enid Blyton Society

Good question Rob - I will check.She definitely did this 1967 front cover.

The american edition has a slightly different cover,but all the internals and externals are still attributed to Betty Maxey.

Yes - that definitely is Betty Maxey, but that first book cover of the four just doesn't look like her style to me. Maybe her style just altered over the years, if the other one was a later illustration?

Yes,you could be right Rob - although it's listed as her work,the cover dates from 1989,so maybe it's another front cover artist?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caldicott-Plac ... 086220853X" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Perhaps her style had changed a lot by 1989. As its a later cover, this might be the case.

I don't think the 1989 cover of Caldicott Place was done by Betty Maxey but it's interesting to see the other scans. Thanks, Pete! I've got the four Gemma books with Betty Maxey illustrations and I like them very much.

The Woman's Realm pictures show that Betty Maxey was perfectly capable of producing detailed and atmospheric drawings. Maybe she did sketchy illustrations for the Famous Five books because she was specifically asked for a modern, pared down look - or because she wasn't paid enough to justify drawings packed with detail.

Betty Maxey's 1967 illustration for Caldicott Place
Don't knock the jug - or the perspective..



Mrs Stick from 1974..

In the first illustration, I don't think its so much the perspective as the angle of the illustration! It hasn't been inserted into the text straight, which makes the perspective look odd.

But someone was quicker than she was! Tim had seen the paper fly from Julian's hand, and had heard and understood the cries of dismay. With an enormous splash he leapt into the water and swam valiantly after the map.
He could swim well for a dog, for he was strong and powerful. He soon had the map in his mouth and was swimming back to the boat. The children thought he was simply marvellous!

A nice illustration of the above account by both Eileen Soper and Betty Maxey!

Now we can gaze lustfully at our fave's externals....

Well done, Pete (even if my eyes are going a bit funny trying to watch both at once).

Eileen v Betty Rabbit comparison

They went on round the course, which was set with great stretches of gorse, full of brilliant blossom. A baby rabbit fled from the bracken as Timmy nosed there for balls. Timmy chased it, and the frightened little creature dodged this way and that, trying to escape. ‘Let it go, Tim, let it go!’ yelled George, but Timmy was much too excited to pay any attention.

To me, Betty's rabbit is not too bad - but remember, I am highly prejudiced about these things.
What about you? From an artistic standpoint how do they compare?

Betty Maxey's rabbit is better when it comes to shape and detail. However, the angle of Eileen Soper's rabbit as it jumps into Wilfrid's arms is more convincing.