The Famous Five - Rate the uncredited cover

[pete9012S]

That's very interesting Viv I didn't know that.

Thanks must really go to Tony once again for making it possible to view all the covers published over the years.

See all the covers in the cave here:
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/famous-five.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[pete9012S]

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... erful+Time" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Another suitcase in another hall, sorry, another day, another cover!
Three this time from Wonderful Time:



A larger view of the third book which seems to break through the third wall??

[Katharine]

Ah you could be right Anita. In which case George does look very much like a boy and Julian looks quite feminine, but it was the 1980's, so maybe pink jackets were the in thing for teenage boys.

Probably... but where's his mullet??

Squashed beneath his 'shades'?

[Barnard]

Re Five Have a Wonderful Time covers.
The cover on the left is the only cover which looks realistic and at least Timmy isn’t completely colourless as he is in the cover on the right.
Left cover 7/10 Middle cover 4/10 Right cover 3/10

[Nick]

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... erful+Time" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The 83 Knight is the best for me. I'm probably being completely biased as I had this copy as a child. I really like the red/pink wash that has been used to create the impression of a hot afternoon/early evening. A solid 7/10 on that one. The others aren't great at all. I'd give both 4/10.

[Lucky Star]

The one on the lefty is the best for me. The colours are natural and I always liked the parts of teh book where the Five are interacting with the gypsy folk. The centre cover is nice but a bit too "medievel" to me. The one on the right is pretty boring.

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

I like the left one too - the five are having a wonderful time!

A holiday with a big horse pulling a gypsy caravan was a real childhood fantasy! And not an a-dolt in sight...

Viv

[Boodi 2]

The one on the left is my favourite too, as it is very atmospheric. I give it 6/10 (I would have rated it even higher but for the fact that Timmy is the wrong colour...again). 5/10 for the middle one, while the one on the right is not very inspiring, hence 2/10.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Good idea for a thread, Pete! I'm enjoying reading people's opinions.


The first thing that strikes me about this picture is how weird the characters look - as though they've had their faces punched in and their hair and clothes brushed with glue! As for Timmy, he doesn't look at all Timmy-ish! Despite the fact that I like the gloomy greenness, this gets 4/10 from me.



The annual cover appeals to me as it has a touch of creepiness and promises secrets and excitement. The children are realistic and Timmy looks nice and Timmy-ish. I'd have preferred an outdoor scene but it still gets 7.5/10 from me.

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... erful+Time" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Another suitcase in another hall, sorry, another day, another cover!
Three this time from Wonderful Time:

I very much like the scene and the dreamy colours of the first book but the characters seem a little out of proportion and there's a bit too much sky. 6.5/10 from me.

The second one is horribly garish and ugly. The bricks remind me of a fairground "haunted house" attraction. 2/10 from me.

The third book is somewhat odd. The children's faces don't look punched-in this time but they're rather expressionless (except for Anne) and remind me of mannequins. As the composition is quite quirky and interesting, I'll give it 5/10.

[Julie2owlsdene]

It is nice to see all these different cover. As my collection is of Soper illustrations, which I grew up with, but I can see the appeal for younger readers of today, and when these covers were first brought out.

[pete9012S]

Strap yourself in for an (almost) Soper/Maxey free Treasure Island banquet:


https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... ure+Island" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Back now to the very first book - I have a feeling this may have been the work of Betty Maxey, (the blond lad above looks like Betty's blond lad below) but please don't let that influence you..







cover by Andrew Lloyd-Jones - but perhaps one we don't peruse / rate very often.

Back to the uncredited covers:








Not sure who illustrated this cover?


Not familiar with this?


Hadn't seen this before have you?

You want the jigsaw too? - ok here it is!



Uncredited cover used for tape and paperback:

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

We know the ages of the children in the first book.

Anne is 10
Dick and George 11
Julian 12

So, has the illustrator taken heed?

Viv

[Nick]

An absolute feast of imagery there Pete!

I had the 83 Knight cover so I think nostalgia gives that an automatic “D+2” rating (one for the gamers there!) That said, I always felt this was one of the weaker covers in the series and I longed for the TV style cover despite not being able to place the image to the story. I think Gary confirmed that the scene is actually from Mystery Moor! A solid 7/10 from me.


I’m not a fan of the Andre Lloyd cover but full marks for getting the 80s cloths right. I think I may have had Julians setup in my wardrobe at one point!

As for the others nothing really catches my eye apart from the one showing the scene where the storm throws up the wreck. The children aren’t particularly great but it is an “exciting image” and captures the emotion of the scene quite well.

[Boodi 2]

Gosh, there are so many that it is difficult to describe the ones I liked best, but I will do my best. I actually liked the first one (5/10) and the second last book (6/10). I was not very impressed with any of the others, although the jigsaw is interesting...I never saw that before.

[Lucky Star]

I've always quite liked the Andrew Lloyd-Jones cover. There's a fine sense of realism about it and the setting is great even if the 80s fashions jar a bit.

Otherwise the one depicting the wreck being thrown up in the storm is very dramatic and as this is one of my favourite scenes from the whole series I think it's a great cover even if Timmy looks woeful.