Sandy from Patches of Heaven contacted me a few weeks ago
to say she was looking for a book from her childhood. All
she could remember about the story was a magical kind of forest, and a little
girl called Belinda. I'm a big fan of
Ivy Wallace and her books about Pookie the little white rabbit with wings.
Belinda stars in the Pookie stories so it was very easy to point Sandy in the
right direction. You can read
Sandy's
post here
Lost Treasure Found at March House Books
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you might remember
me mentioning a rare
Rupert annual coming up for sale at auction. See the original
post
here. Bloomsbury Auctions estimated the value as £18000 to £22000 but
in the end bidding stalled at £13000 and the annual went unsold. Sotheby’s had a rather better outcome when a
first edition
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone containing personal
annotations and illustrations by author J.K. Rowling sold for £150,000. It might
be time to check your lofts, basements and outhouses in the hope of finding a
copy!
You may also remember I mentioned finding a copy of the
Jack and Jill all colour gift book containing a story about Tom Puss by
Marten
Toonder. I listed the book on eBay and am delighted to say it sold and is now
on the way to the
Netherlands.
It’s a fitting end to the story as Marten Toonder was one of the most
successful artists in the
Netherlands
famous for his Tom Puss and Oliver B Bumble comic strips. It's nice to know Tom
Puss is on his way home.
For the joy of books; Catherine over at
An Angel in the garden has written a lovely post about her favourite book shop. If you love
books prepare to fall in love with this shop and with Catherine's blog!
Last but certainly not least
if you are interested in ponies or books about ponies,
I can thoroughly recommend a new book written by Jane Badger. Heroines on Horseback looks at the pony book through its
beginnings in the 20s and 30s, to the glory days of the 40s and 50s, and
beyond. Jane writes about the lives and contributions of noted exponents,
including Primrose Cumming, Monica Edwards, Patricia Leitch, Ruby Ferguson and
the Pullein-Thompson sisters, as well as providing a wide-ranging view of the
genre as a whole, its themes and developments, illustrators and short stories. You can find out more about Jane and her book at
Books Mud and Compost
That's all folks!
Gosh, I remember hearing on the radio that a HP book was going up for auction and I did wonder what it sold for....WOW! I wish I had one of those tucked away. x
ReplyDeleteI think we all wish that! I'm not sure I would be able to sell it, just to own it would be enough. xx
DeleteGreat to catch up on some of the stories previously featured on your blog, I was wondering how much that Rupert book would go for - a shame it went unsold really. Still, I suppose it gives me a chance to save my pennies and bid for it another day ..... if only.
ReplyDeleteI would think the owner will hang on to it for a while and then try it at another auction. I will let you know if I see it coming up – keep saving!
DeleteThis is one of my favorite blogs to come to in the early morning; you have treasures that many others don't even know about, remember, or have...and coming here is like getting to the bakery early in the morning to smell the goodness of the daily bread. OH THE BOOKS ABOUT PONYS!!!!!! In fact, today I tackle cleaning out my library and I will be able to see what I have. Oh Barbara, have a FUN DAY! Anita
ReplyDeleteDear Anita, I’m overwhelmed by your lovely comment. I know exactly what you mean about the bakery early in the morning and to have that wonderful experience likened to my humble blog is such a compliment, thank you!
DeleteI hope you find lots of wonderful things in your library, and many treasures hidden away and forgotten about. Barbara x
£150,000 - that's a whole lot of dollars. We have two British and one American copy of the HP series, not counting the set we donated to the Good Shepard Foster Care library in the Bronx. I'll have to check what we have but I'm pretty certain they are only worth what we paid right now.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading you post about the Rupert Annual - I;m surprised the bidding stalled, annuals are usually wanted by someone. And what a wonderful end for Tom Puss on its way to Holland.
Thanks for this very interesting post, Barbara.
Thanks Alex, I was unsure about doing a ‘follow up’ so I’m pleasedyou enjoyed the post.
DeleteThere are some eye watering prices for HP on ABEbooks but also lots costing just a pound or two. Obviously, 1st editions of the first book in the series, especially signed copies are worth much more than later reprints. The one sold at auction was pretty special being annotated by JK Rowling. I hope you find a rare signed edition amongst your collection!
Barbara, you are such a wealth of information! Love visiting here! Those pony books are darling. I think as a young girl I read everyone of those except for Gymkhana. Wonderful memories..
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks Diane! Black Beauty was one of my favourite books, but I usually had my nose buried in an adventure story by Enid Blyton, so I missed out on a lot of pony books. I’m trying to make up for it now though.
DeleteIt's fantastic that you managed to reunite Sandy with such precious books! I've never read the Pookie stories, but they do look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAlso, £150,000 for a first edition Harry Potter? Wow! Now if only I could find something like that in my attic, haha. x
Hi Sophie, It was nice for me too, especially as I recognised the book. It’s much harder when someone is looking for a book I don’t know, I do try to help, but I’m not always successful!
DeleteI’ve turned the house and attic upside down. No 1st edition annotated HP books reside here!
I always learn something new when reading your blog, Barbara, loved reading your post :) The Pookie stories sounds lovely, don't think I have heared about them before, and I'm amazed about how much the Harry Potter book went for! Oh, those pony books look so nice, I remember reading about Black Beauty when I was younger :)
ReplyDeleteI’m really pleased to hear that Hilde, and I feel just the same way about your blog and posts. Black Beauty was (and is) one of my favourites too, but I still can’t read it without crying!
DeleteSo nice to come here and see how much these wonderful children's books are still loved. What do you suppose will happen to the price of books once everything is on an e-reader/kindle and no longer printed? (That will be a sad day for me.)
ReplyDeleteHi Gayle, That’s the question booksellers are asking themselves (and each other!) It’s probably too early to tell at the moment. The same kind of thing happened when vinyl records went out of favour, now some are worth large sums of money while others are virtually worthless. I think (hope) prized books will be worth more but the run of the mill, printed in high numbers kind will probably be worth nothing. Second hand book prices are falling year on year. Books worth £10 - £20 a few years ago can now be found on Amazon for just a few pence. It will be a sad day when books are no longer printed, and one I hope not to see.
DeleteVery nice and interesting post, Barbara! I love your stories of people looking for certain books and you looking for them. I think you have a very exciting task.
ReplyDeleteLovely shop the one Catherine shared, in one of her photos I saw a tempting nursery rhymes book.
Besos!
Hello Sylvina, I would love to spend an afternoon in that shop! I very much enjoy finding books. It can be frustrating when I don’t recognise them but there is usually somewhere I can suggest people look. The internet has made it all so much easier, books that were once thought rare are now fairly easy to find. There are still some very elusive ones and those are the ones I’m always looking for!
DeleteI am so in love with you blog.
ReplyDeleteI have sat and read your posts until
my neck hurts and today's post most
certainly doesn't disappoint either.
I can't believe the colour changes to
Rupert were made without the artist's
consent and am amazed at it's value.
I can remember sitting with my mother at a
young age, as we read one particular Rupert
annual together. I haven't come across this one
since and all I can really remember is part of
the cover, which had a cute, little, winged black
cat sitting on some rocks in a corner of it.
It's probably not rare, but I'd love to find one.
Have a lovely day Barbara : )
Hello Yvonne, thank you so much for your sweet comment. I know exactly what you mean about a sore neck that happens to me too! I decide to spend a couple of minutes on someone's blog and end up staying for hours! Whatever did we do with our time before blogs?
DeleteI thought it would be really simple to find ‘your’ Rupert book, but not so! I had no idea black cats featured on so many of the books. I started looking at the early annuals first, and so far I’ve found a black cat on the front of each annual printed in 1939, 1943/44/47, 1963/64/69, and 1974/76 – but none of those cats have wings.
Can you remember if it was a new book you were looking at or one owned by an older relative? If you can remember how old you were at the time that might give us an idea of the year the book was published. Can you remember if it was a large book (annual size) or something smaller? I will keep looking and let you know if I do find it but any other clues you can think of would probably help.
You could also try asking Michelle at Vintage cobweb, she has lots and lots of collections and might recognise the one you are looking for. Thanks so much for calling in and leaving a comment, Barbara
Hi Barbara, the only other information I can give is that I remember it being annual size, I must have been about 5 or 6 (1978/79) and the book would have been second hand. This doesn't help much, I know.
DeleteThank you so much for having a look, I've never come up with anything either unfortunately. It's not something I must have, or urgently want to find, it would just be nice to see it again after all these years.
I will definitely mention it to Michelle though.
Have a wonderful day : )
Helly Yvonne,
DeleteThe 1970 annual included a story called Rupert the the Blunderpuss (flying cat) so he was around then but not on the front of that annual. I'm sure he would have featured in later books.
There is also a YouTube video called Rupert and the Blunderpuss at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUBdoBtDMsM
I'm sure Michelle will be able to help more.
Barbara
I love all the great info I get on your blog. I was astounded how much the HP went for.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna, I thought you would be interested in the HP. I had no idea it would sell for so much.
DeleteI love that you reunited Sandy with a favorite book from childhood. :)
ReplyDeleteI can imagine someone paying that large sum for the version of HP and the Philosopher's Stone that you mentioned. I would love to see the original drawings that JK did! WOW!
Thanks for sharing such great book bits this week. :) Happy weekend (almost)
It was fun for me too. Finding long lost books can be quite a challenge but in this case, it was easy.
DeleteI just wonder what the HP book will be worth when the books and films are forgotten in years to come. It could well be worth less than it is now.
Thanks for calling in Stephanie, I always enjoy your visits.
I'll never forget the day I was re-united with one of my favourite childhood books, Jessica's First Prayer, after searching book shops up and down the country in the days before the internet. Since then I've also found a copy of the 1953 Brer Rabbit annual I gave away as a child. Oh, Barbara, your blog brings back so many happy memories.
ReplyDeleteHi Marilyn, I can appreciate just how you felt. It’s wonderful when you open the cover and there is the illustration or the story you remember from all those years before. I’m still searching for some of my childhood books, but I’ve managed to replace quite a few, and it still gives me a thrill every time I pick one up. It's amazing how a book can transport you back through the years. Thanks so much for calling in and leaving a comment, I appreciate it, Barbara.
DeleteWell lucky me my little Rupert comes with all his love for free, and I'm off to spend a few days with him,this week end.
ReplyDeleteYour post shines bright this week. be well Agman
Hello Agman, you are lucky indeed! Have a wonderful weekend. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Barbara
DeleteHello Barbara, thank you so much for your sweet mention in this post & the link...much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteWhat a true delight these lovely old books & illustrations are.. & thank goodness for such a dedicated caretaker & distributor!! Well done!
Thank you for the check up about the fairy & the mouse...so cute both the words & the pictures.
Have a lovely weekend.
Much love Catherine x0x0x
Hello Catherine, that you for sharing so many lovely things on your blog! I will be over later to see what new delights are on offer.
DeleteThank you also for your very sweet comment, I really appreciate it.
With love, Barbara xxx
~ Care taker of, books from our past...Barbara! That's who you are. Ever so pleased you reunited Sandy with the one close to her heart! Rupert! goodness, having a soft spot for him, I am glad he is holding his price soo well! With kindest thoughts....Maria x
ReplyDeleteA caretaker of books how lovely, thank you Maria! xxx
DeleteHi Barbara - I always love it when you include Pookie in a post. I popped over to visit Sandy - isn't it wonderful what is possible now with the marvel of the internet! I also enjoyed the update on the other books - you always are a veritable mine of fascinating information!!
ReplyDeleteHello Sharon, I was so pleased when I noticed you had called in! Sorry it took a while to respond we have just back from our holiday. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Barbara
Delete