Newly Catalogued: From the Alps to Toyland

Lots of lovely books and ephemeral items have come in over the last few weeks.

Heidi, Heidi Grows Up and Heidi's Children

When Heidi is sent to live in the Swiss mountains with her elderly Grandfather, the people in the village feel sorry for her. But Heidi soon discovers a secret: Grandfather isn't nearly as cross as he looks. Heidi was another of my childhood favourites. I can remember reading the first line and wishing I could travel to the mountains with Heidi – "From the old and pleasantly situated town of Maienfeld a path leads through green, shady meadows to the foot of the mountains which look down from their majestic heights upon the valley below."

Now for some fun! The Happy Little Choo-Choo with animated pages

Written by Laura Harris animated by Julian Wehr and published by Wm. Penn in1944.

Pull the tabs to oil the wheels, change the points and move a cow from the track! Colour and two-tone illustrations plus moving pages make this a very special book.  

Three pretty flower fairy books by Cicely Mary Barker, c1960s/70s

It may seem odd to include a Christmas story at this time of year but Pookie the little white rabbit with wings is popular all year round. These are all hardbacks written and illustrated by Ivy Wallace and published between 1955 and 1959.

A Set of six miniature Mrs Books by Lawson Wood. Mrs. Bear, Mrs. Purr, Mrs. Nibble, Mrs. Waddle, Mrs. Polly and Mrs. Cackle. Undated c1919. 

Rupert and the Wonderful Boots written and illustrated by Mary Tourtel, 1st edition 1946. Join Rupert as he flies over villages and castles and into many adventures with the Brigands and the Evil Ogre.

Scarce early Beano Annual featuring Biffo the Bear, Jack flash, Pansy Potter, Have a Go Jo, Lord Snooty, Skinny Flint and Iron Fish. The Beano Book 1953 cartoons by Dudley D Watkins and other artists.

Other newly listed items include a nice collection of Noddy books, a couple of very pretty pop-up birthday cards and a picture strip book called Noddy's Penny Wheel Car.

Enid Blyton has been in the news again recently. It seems that some of the good people of Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire are trying to oppose the installation of a plaque on the spot where her home once stood. Further they are trying to block a festival in her honour, on the grounds that her work is 'racist and offensive'. Whatever the rights and wrongs of this I stand by the fact that I loved Enid Blyton books when I was a child, and I love them still. Her books were written in very different (more innocent?) times, they encouraged numerous reluctant readers, including me, to pick up a book and start reading.

A pretty picture strip book published by Sampson Low in 1952. Twenty eight pages, printed in four colours throughout, artist uncredited. 2 stories - 36 frames each, the second story is titled Noddy in trouble.

Last but certainly not least two beautiful vintage 'pop-up' birthday cards. 

Did you read Heidi when you were small?  Or maybe Rupert Bear or the Beano annual were more your kind of thing?


All the books featured here are now sold, thank you for looking.

Update July 2016: March House books closed on my retirement in 2015, but I do still blog here at March of Time Books and always appreciate your visit.