Dandino the pedlar of dreams & Little Boy Joe from The Jack and Jill All colour Gift Book

This is a truly beautiful annual published by The News of the World. Sadly, this copy like others I've seen has a damaged spine. If you can ignore the damage, you will find delights galore inside. One of my favourites is a story and poem about Dandino the pedlar of dreams;

I'm Dandino, the Pedlar of Dreams, 

you'll buy violet or lilly a-down Piccadilly, 

orange and lemons around by St. Clements, 

but never a Dream, so it seems.

To my shop in the Strand

folks humble and grand

come with lists of the dreams they require,

and the very next night before it is light

they are having the dreams they desire.

We've everything here

and nothing too dear,

Come when the Full Moon beams,

if you've got the right face

I'll find you a place

in my beautiful Country of Dreams.

No nightmares or scares

find a place in my wares,

I deal with the very best people,

I prefer the young folk,

and just for a joke

I can make you jump over a steeple.

I've a nice line in fairies

the price seldom varies,

but demons and goblins, with screams,

and frightening spooks

are NOT on my books,

for mine are the nicest of Dreams.

Another of my favourites is this poem written and illustrated by Barbara C. Freeman about Phyllida Phoebe and three little pigs called Timothy, Thomas and Little Boy Joe.

Phyllida Phoebe keeps pigs in the wood, 

Timothy, Thomas and Little Boy Joe; 

In the hot weather, they paddle together 

and play with the gleaming fish swimming below. 

Chase the blue dragon flies, darting and cool, 

while Phyllida washes her clothes in the pool...

This is the first Jack and Jill all colour Gift book published in 1949. As far as I know there were only two issues. This and a second annual published around 1951/52 - see previous post here. It’s a shame because they are really special but maybe the cost of printing ‘in full colour’ or the problems with the spine were enough to halt production.

Updated June 2014 – with thanks to 'Mary' for this extra information received by email - If you haven't already discovered it, I thought you might like to know that there were 3 books in this series. I've had the 3rd since about 1952.

The Jack and Jill all colour gift book is now sold, thank you for your interest.

I’ve just enjoyed some time off with family and friends, but it’s now time to start listing lots of lovely new (vintage) books and related ephemera. Thanks to everyone who called in over Christmas. I really appreciate your visits and wish you all a very...