Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

[Lucky Star]

Nice artwork indeed. Very typically 70s.

[Anita Bensoussane]

I like the style of the artwork too. It looks familiar so I must have come across Tony Higham elsewhere - probably in Jinty annuals and maybe other annuals as well.

Daddy saying, "There, there! Control yourself, Miss Scott" to the housekeeper wouldn't go down well these days! Miss Scott is a governess in the original book and I'm sure Enid Blyton wouldn't have dreamt of having Daddy be so patronising!

[pete9012S]

First edition: 1942
Publisher: Evans Brothers
Illustrator: Gwen White
Category: Jolly Family
Genre: Family
Type: Picture Story Books

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... 28No.+6%29

Bit of a tantalising gem this one as I have never seen inside this 18 page booklet have you?

[Anita Bensoussane]

No, I haven't seen inside it. We can see the whole of John Jolly by the Sea, of course, so that gives us an idea of the format. I doubt John Jolly would be bathing today though - not here in the UK, anyway!

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... 28No.+1%29

It would be lovely to know what he's been buying in the shops on the Christmastime cover!

[pete9012S]

First edition: 1956
Publisher: Juvenile Productions
Illustrator: Geoffrey Higham
Category: Miscellaneous 40s & 50s Books
Genre: Mixed
Type: Blyton Contributions

The Christmas Bicycle
Illustrations: Geoffrey Higham
Story: Specially Written

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... hp?id=1904

Would you like to read this 1956 story The Christmas Bicycle?

You would? Yes I would too.
Happily we can as the whole story has been added to the cave for us by Tony!

Read it here:
This is not the whole book, but it is the complete Enid Blyton short story with the Geoffrey Higham illustrations. The story was written specially for this book and has never been printed elsewhere.

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... hp?id=1904

[Anita Bensoussane]

Thanks for reminding us of that, Pete - and thanks to Tony for putting it in the Cave. It's a tense, dramatic story and I like it a lot.

[Katharine]

That looks lovely Pete - I'll try and read it a bit later.

I have extracts of the Christmas Book in a modern Christmas compilation, and really enjoyed them.

[Anita Bensoussane]

I think your extracts would have come from the following book, Katharine:



https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... stmas+Book

I dipped into it the other day and was reminded how much detail Enid Blyton goes into regarding various Christmas customs. Seeing the traditions through the eyes of a family, with the children asking questions as they gather mistletoe etc., adds a lovely personal touch and makes everything especially vivid and memorable.

[Katharine]

Thanks Anita.

I was getting confused!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Easily done when the titles are the same!

[Katharine]

And I didn't read the small print that it was an Enid contribution.

I've just read the story - a typical Enid style tale, and very enjoyable.

[Courtenay]

Would you like to read this 1956 story The Christmas Bicycle?

You would? Yes I would too.
Happily we can as the whole story has been added to the cave for us by Tony!

Read it here:
This is not the whole book, but it is the complete Enid Blyton short story with the Geoffrey Higham illustrations. The story was written specially for this book and has never been printed elsewhere.

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... hp?id=1904

Thanks for the heads-up about that, Pete — and thanks once again to Tony for all his work in adding these excellent items of interest! That was another very good read — one of Enid's "actions have consequences" tales, and quite dramatic and hard-hitting.

[pete9012S]

First edition: 1934
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Illustrator: Ruth Gervis
Category: Nelson's 20s, 30s & 40s Books
Genre: Mixed
Type: Blyton Contributions

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... st+Omnibus

Way back to 1934 for this colourful gem! (It is a lovely book, and it is also signed by Rosalind Vallance - TS)

[Anita Bensoussane]

Thanks, Pete. It's nice that the cover of The Youngest Omnibus and the story 'The Careless Hedgehogs' were illustrated by Ruth Gervis, sister of Noel Streatfeild. Ruth Gervis also illustrated The Very Big Secret and most of the Caravan Family series.

[pete9012S]

Book Details...

First edition: 1930
Publisher: Birn Brothers
Illustrator: Uncredited
Category: Birn Hidden Wheel Verse Books
Genre: Learning
Type: Poetry and Song Books

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... 28No.60%29

Three 1930 gems for the price of one - every booklet can be read in the cave - superb!


HOW TO MULTIPLY (NO.60)
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... 28No.60%29

HOW TO COUNT (NO.61)
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... 28No.61%29

FAIRY TALES (NO.63)
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... 28No.63%29