How can you tell if your Noddy book is a first edition? It’s no easy task but there are a few things
you can try. Most importantly always look for books that are complete with
their dust jackets. Having the dust jacket will allow you to check other titles
listed (if any). If later titles from the
series are shown, the book you are holding is not a first edition.
The following notes should be helpful but please don’t spend
large amounts of money on Noddy books without first conducting your own
research.
Book 1: Noddy goes to Toyland; Published 1949
Undated, rounded spine and should include the full Sampson
Low Marston & Co Ltd address,25 Gilbert Street,LondonW1 on the title page.
It should have a dust jacket which describes only this book on a plain white
front flap with the original price of 3s. 6d. net and mentions Toby Twirl and
Nicholas Thomas on the back flap. The colouring on both the book and dust
jacket should be the same. Illustrations by Harmsen Van der Beek
Book 2: Hurrah for little Noddy; Published 1950
Undated, rounded spine and should include the full Sampson
Low Marston & Co Ltd address,25 Gilbert Street,LondonW1 on the title page.
It should have a dust jacket which describes only the first two books on the
front flap with the original price of 3s 6d net. Lists Toby Twirl 1 & 2 and
Nicholas Thomas 1 & 2 on the back flap. The pink letters on the front cover
are very pale; the colouring on both the book and dust jacket should be the
same. Illustrated by Harmsen Van der Beek
Book 3: Noddy and his Car; Published 1951
Undated, rounded spine and should include the full Sampson
Low Marston & Co Ltd address,25 Gilbert Street,LondonW1 on the title page.
It should have a dust jacket with the original price of 3s. 6d. net on the
front flap. Lists Toby Twirl 1 2 3 and Nicholas Thomas 1 2 & 3 on the back
flap. Illustrations by Harmsen Ven der Beek
Book 4: Here Comes Noddy Again; Published 1951
Undated, rounded spine and should include the full Sampson
Low Marston & Co Ltd address,25 Gilbert Street,LondonW1 on the title page.
It should have a dust jacket which described the first three books and The Big
Noddy Book on the front flap with the original price of 3s. 6d. net. Lists Toby
Twirl 1 2 3& 4 and Nicholas Thomas 1 2 & 3 on the back flap.
Illustrations by Harmsen Van der Beek
Book 5: Well Done Noddy; Published 1952
Undated, rounded spine and should include the full Sampson
Low Marston & Co Ltd address,25 Gilbert Street,LondonW1 on the title page.
It should have a dust jacket which described just this book on the front flap
with the original price of 3s 6d net. The back flap shows ‘the children’s
library’ little books just like this one (Nicholas Thomas, Toby Twirl and
Noddy) on the back flap. Illustrations by Harmsen Van der Beek
Book 6: Noddy Goes to School; Published 1952
Undated, rounded spine and should include the full Sampson
Low Marston & Co Ltd address,25 Gilbert Street,LondonW1 on the title page.
This was the same for all editions up to the end of 1952. It should have a dust
jacket which shows ‘The Children’s Library’ on the back flap. Original price 3s
6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by Harmsen Van der Beek.
Book 7: Noddy at theSeaside; Published 1953
Undated, square spine, publishers details on the title page
‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and C. A. Publications, Ltd’. It should have
a dust jacket with a pictorial front flap and details of ‘The Children’s
Library’ on the back flap. Original price 3s 6d net on front turn in.
Illustrations by Harmsen Van der Beek.
Book 8: Noddy Gets into Trouble; Published 1954
Undated, square spine, publishers details on the title page
‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and C. A. Publications Ltd’. It should have
a dust jacket with a pictorial front flap and details of ‘The Children’s
Library’ on the back flap. Original price 3s 6d net on front turn in.
Illustrations by Mary Brooks.
Book 9: Noddy and the Magic Rubber; Published 1954
Undated, square spine, publishers details on the title page
‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and Pleiades Books Ltd’. It should have a
dust jacket with a pictorial front flap and details of ‘The Children’s Library’
on the back flap. Original price 3s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by
Peter Wienk and Robert Tyndall.
Book 10: You Funny little Noddy; Published 1955
Undated, square spine, publishers details on the title page
‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd & Pleiades Books Ltd’. It should have a
dust jacket with a pictorial front flap and details of ‘The Children’s Library’
on the back flap. Original price 3s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by
Peter Wienk.
Book 11: Noddy Meets Father Christmas; Published 1955
Undated, square spine, publishers details on the title page
‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd & C. A. Publications Ltd’. It should
have a dust jacket with a pictorial front flap and details of ‘The Children’s
Library’ on the back flap. Original price 3s 6d net on front turn in.
Illustrations by Mary Brooks.
Book 12: Noddy and Tessie Bear; Published 1956
Undated, square spine, publishers details on the title page
‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and Dennis Dobson Ltd’. It should have a
dust jacket which lists Nos.1-12 in the series on the back flap. Original price
3s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by Robert Lee.
Book 13: Be Brave Little Noddy; Published 1956
Undated, square spine, publishers details on the title page
‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and Dennis Dobson Ltd’. It should have a
dust jacket which lists Nos. 1-13 in the series on the back flap. Original
price 3s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by Peter Wienk.
Book 14: Noddy and the Bumpy Dog; Published 1957
Undated, square spine, publishers details on the title page
‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and Dennis Dobson Ltd’. It should have a
dust jacket which lists Nos.1-14 in the series on the back flap. This is the
only book in the Noddy series not to have a picture of Noddy at the top of the
spine, but this was added in later editions. Original price 3s 6d net on front
turn in. Illustrations by Robert Lee and Robert Tyndall.
Book 15: Do Look Out Noddy; Published 1957
Undated, square spine, publishers details on the title page
‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and Dennis Dobson Ltd’. It should have a
dust jacket which lists Nos.1-15 in the series on the back flap. Original price
3s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by Robert Lee and Robert Tyndall.
Book 16: You're a Good Friend Noddy; Published 1958
Copyright date on title page © 1958, square spine,
publishers details ‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and D. V. Publications,
Ltd. It should have a dust jacket which lists Nos.1-16 in the series on the
back flap. Original price 4s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by Robert
Lee and Robert Tyndall.
Book 17: Noddy has an Adventure; Published; 1958
Copyright date on title page © 1958, square spine,
publishers details ‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and Dennis Dobson Ltd’.
It should have a dust jacket which lists Nos.1-17 in the series on the back
flap. Original price 4s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by Robert Lee
and Robert Tyndall.
Book 18: Noddy Goes to Sea; Published 1959
Copyright date on title page © 1959, square spine,
publishers details ‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and Dennis Dobson Ltd’.
It should have a dust jacket which lists Nos.1-18 in the series on the back
flap. Original price 4s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by Peter Wienk.
Book 19: Noddy and the Bunkey; Published 1959
Copyright date on title page © 1959, square spine,
publishers details ‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and The Richards Press
Ltd’. It should have a dust jacket which lists Nos.1-19 in the series on the
back flap. Original price 4s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by Robert
Tyndall.
Book 20: Cheer up Little Noddy; Published 1960
Copyright date on title page © 1960, square spine,
publishers details ‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and The Richards
Press Ltd’. It should have a dust jacket which lists Nos.1-20 in the series on
the back flap. Original price 4s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by
Robert Tyndall.
Book 21: Noddy Goes To the Fair; Published 1960
Copyright date on title page © 1960, square spine,
publishers details ‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and D.V. Publications
Ltd’. It should have a dust jacket which lists Nos.1-21 in the series on the
back flap. Original price 4s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by Robert
Tyndall.
Book 22: Mr Plod and Little Noddy; Published 1961
Copyright date on title page © 1961, square spine,
publishers details ‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and The Richards Press
Ltd’. It should have a dust jacket which lists Nos.1-22 in the series on the
back flap. Original price 4s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by Robert
Tyndall.
Book 23: Noddy and the Tootles; Published 1962
Copyright date on title page © 1962, square spine,
publishers details ‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and The Richards Press
Ltd’. It should have a dust jacket which lists Nos.1-23 in the series on the
back flap. Original price 4s 6d net on front turn in. Illustrations by Robert
Tyndall.
Book 24: Noddy and the Aeroplane; Published 1964
Copyright date on title page © 1963 (in Roman numerals),
square spine, publishers details ‘Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd and The
Richards Press Ltd’. It should have a dust jacket which lists Nos.1-24 in the
series on the back flap. Original price 4s 6d net on front turn in.
Illustrations by Peter Wienk. The following information was supplied by Lyndsay
Hall (thank you Lyndsay) and checked on the Enid Blyton Society Website; The
title on both the dust jacket and boards printed in multi-colours, the title
page has the word aeroplane in one single colour. This colour could be
described as yellow or orange. All other words in the title are multi-colours.
Souce; Enid Blyton illustrated bibliography Parts 1, 2 and
3 by Tony Summerfield.
Via The Enid Blyton Scoiety
Via The Enid Blyton Scoiety
Thank-you for this guide on first edition Noddy books. It has made things a great deal clearer for me. I like little Noddy but I wish they had not removed the Gollies in the later books. They were portrayed in the stories as mostly nice characters in just the same way as the others.They were to me,as a child, just a fun toy and still are today.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. I agree with you about the Gollies. I loved them as a child back in the 50s but I guess times change. I'm glad this was helpful to you. Barbara
DeleteI didn't see be brave little Noddy, is it rare?
ReplyDeleteThis list is for the original 24 Noddy books published between 1949 and 1963. I believe Be Brave Little Noddy was first published in 1956 hence it doesn’t feature here. Hope that helps. Barbara
Delete