The Enid Blyton Society

I would love a copy of the Trilogy of books that I remember reading as a Child, im only 46 but can still remember the tales vividly...

The Enchanted Wood
The Magic Faraway Tree
The Folk of the Faraway Tree

1st editions would be lovely, however im not holding out my last pieces of silver

All need to be in excellent condition as they will be displayed on my bookcase, Preferably hardback aswell...

This will eventually lead the way to start collecting all her Childrens books

Many thanks for taking the time to read and welcoming me to you Society.

Garry

You can but these books in most famous book shops, gazzaagoogle1966. So get yourself down to a book shop and buy the bunch. But if you're meaning a old copy of one, why don't you go to ebay.co.uk so you can have a search for an old copy. They are, of course, second-hand so don't expect any newly copied ones.

First editions of those titles are generally quite expensive (even without their dustjackets I've seen early editions go for around £50-£100 normally). As 7up says, the best thing to do is get yourself on eBay as there's always copies of them in one format or another.

Thanks 7up and Fiona for your quick responses - will have a look as we speak lol

Will keep you informed

Thanks again

Garry x

Have a look at all the choices that you have by clicking on the Faraway Tree button on our Home Page, Garry, as this would be an easier way of picking out which edition you prefer.

I am a newbie and am looking for the trilogy for the daughter of a friend. I thought this would be easy however it seems there are many variations in editions, publishers and illustrators. In addition I understand the text was 'modernised' at some point, or maybe 'sanitised' is a better description. I'm not looking for the earliest editions (very expensive) but I want a set with original text. Can anyone tell me when the text changed and/or if particular publishers stayed with the original text.
All advice will be gratefully received.

Rigr

If you want the original text you're usually safe with anything pre 1970 though there are sometimes small changes before then (eg king changed to queen).

I think it was Newnes that published the Faraway Tree books so any impression/edition by them through the 30s-50s should be fine. If you check the cave of books from the homepage of this site you can find the series and it will show you all the editions that exist with dates and publisher, most even have photos. I'm on my phone right now but I can have a look in the cave later to provide you more specific details.

Here's their details in the cave

As you will see any copies published in the 30s, 40s and 50s will be the first edition, somethingth impression - most likely with the original text. The first new editions are the 1970s Deans illustrated by Rene Cloke.

I know later editions have Joe, Beth and Frannie which is quite a big change though I'm not sure exactly when that change occurred.

If you can live with decimalization, the 70's editions were in print by Deans up to at least 1989 as one of the trilogy I have is an 80's one (the others being early 70's) and those keep original names as well being relatively inexpensive.

Thanks everyone for very fast replies and good advice. Inow know to search for pre-1970 and Newnes as publisher.

Rigr

Fiona1986 wrote:First editions of those titles are generally quite expensive (even without their dustjackets I've seen early editions go for around £50-£100 normally). As 7up says, the best thing to do is get yourself on eBay as there's always copies of them in one format or another.

Only £50-£100 for a first edition? I thought they'd be a lot more than that.

Well, I did say that three years ago and things do change. The price of a first edition varies enormously from series to series, affected by condition as well, and of course, it's entirely dependent on a)how much value the seller thinks it has and the price they therefore list it at, and b) how much value the buyer puts on it and how much they are then willing to pay.