Newly Catalogued

The last few weeks have flown past but now that my new website is up and running I hope to have more time for cataloguing. If you are looking for a particular title, please let me know, and I will do my best to find it for you.

Speedy the mini story and playbook. Illustrations and story by Tim. [William Timym, (1901-1990) artist whose best-known work is probably the Bleep and Booster cartoons for the BBC's Blue Peter.] Published by Purnell & Sons in 1966.  The historical map of England and Wales and the toy cars came from a vintage antique fair. These are the kinds of things I can never resist, but now there is an excuse – props for this blog! 

Secret Seven books by Enid Blyton always look so colourful side by side on a bookshelf. These were all published by Brockhampton Press between 1967 and 1973. From left to right - The Secret Seven,  Secret Seven on the trail(sold), Well done Secret Seven(sold), Look out Secret Seven(sold), Good Old Secret Seven(sold), Three cheers Secret Seven, Secret Seven mystery(sold), Go ahead Secret Seven and Good work Secret Seven.

There are other Secret Seven books waiting to be listed. If you are looking for a particular title, and don't see it here, please contact me. If I don’t have it, I may be able to find it.  


Little Grey Rabbit books by Alison Uttley are always very popular but have you met Snug and Serena?

Little Grey Rabbit makes lace with illustrations by Margaret Tempest. Complete with dust jacket. Published in 1951 by Collins. When Hare sees an old woman making pillow-lace, he decides to learn how to do it so that he can show Little Grey Rabbit. Little Grey Rabbit makes lace is now sold, thank you for your interest.

Snug and Serena meet a Queen is also by Alice Uttley but this time the illustrations are by Katherine Wigglesworth. Published by Heinemman in 1950 in the same format as the Grey Rabbit books. Snug and Serena are two little field mice. Not only do they meet a Queen but Snug is carried off by a hawk and Serena has a narrow escape from a hungry weasel!

This is the first copy of Feed the animals by H. A. Rey that I've had the pleasure of listing.  It was published by Chatto and Windus in 1960. The story is told in rhyme with transforming pages that lift to reveal different animals. “Harry the keeper is ready to bring a bag which is tied at the top with a string. Now what’s in the bag, and for whom will it be? Open the flap, and you will see.”

Buffers End by Rowland Emett a humorous look at the machine age from steam trains to steam rollers and other forms of transport. Rowland Emett came to prominence in the 1930s with the publication of his cartoons in Punch Magazine. Nellie the steam train made her debut in the March 8th, 1944 issue, and a whole new world was created. The branch lines of Friars Crumbling radiated out to destinations such as Far Twittering, Buffers End, Long Suffering, Freezing in the Marrow and St. Torpid's Creek. In 1950, Emett was approached by the organisers of the Festival of Britain with a view to creating a full-size passenger carrying version of his railway system. Initially reluctant, he finally agreed and began creating the designs. Nellie was the first engine to emerge from the workshops. Two of his other trains (Neptune and Wild Goose) were also created for the renamed Far Tottering and Oyster Creek Branch Lines. Nellie and the Far Tottering Railway carried over 2 million passengers at the 1951 Festival. I must have been about five when my Godmother sent me a birthday greeting telegram designed by Rowland Emett, and I’ve been a fan ever since. 

Thanks so much for taking the time to call in, Barbara.

Update July 2016: All the books featured are now sold. March House books closed on my retirement in 2015, but I am still happily blogging here at March of Time Books. Your visits are always appreciated.