Friday 28 November 2014

Faster went the van, faster still, until, until, UNTIL ...

Mr Man & the new red van hardback vintage book
Mr. Man & The New Red Van written by Richard Forbes and published in 1963 by the Friday Press. Edgar Norfield provides the delightful illustrations using primary colours for extra impact.

While not written especially as a beginning-to-read book, the vocabulary is simple, and the few difficult words are repeated to give children practice.

with a dog, a cat and a small brown mouse

Mister Man lives in a house with a dog, a cat and a small brown mouse. Now one wet day said Mister Man, "I think I will buy a new red van." A new red van, said the cat with a purr, "What fun we will have. It will make such a stir." "A van," growled the dog, "I like to walk."

The mouse had a cold, and could not talk. 

So Mister Man went into town with the cat, the dog and the mouse who was brown. 
The rain came down and the wind it blew. The cat grew cold, and the mouse did too.
"As you make such a fuss we will catch a bus. It will be dry inside, and we will have a nice ride."


Mr Man

The story follows Mister Man, the cat, the dog and the mouse into town and out into the countryside in their new red van.

The dog said, "Now we can go nice and fast," the van sped along. 

But the mouse was sad.
He knew it was bad, to speed when there is no need.

faster went the van and faster still until, until, until ...

Faster went the van, faster still,
Until, until, UNTIL...

Out of the lorry got a great big man and he came across to the new red van.
And he said, "Am I Cross?"  "Yes, I am."

"It is wrong to go fast, do you see?"
"You'll be sorry you bumped into me."
And with that he gave an enormous sneeze
which blew the van right into the trees!

(This illustration reminds of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets where the flying car ended up in the whomping willow!)

At the top of the tree stood a big black bird,
he stared at the van, and said, "MyWord"



Poor Mister Man!

His lovely new van, red paint chipped, a new lamp ripped - pushed out of a tree, 
Oh, my goodness me!

But the black bird and his friends were eager to help, and it wasn't long before Mr. Man, the dog, the cat and the small brown mouse were on their way. 

A scarce vintage book with a moral tale and beautiful illustrations

A scarce vintage book with a moral tale and beautiful illustrations.  

Mr Man & The New Red Van is now sold, thank you for your interest.

Friday 21 November 2014

Queen Elizabeth's Little House - A Dean's cut-out story book.

Queen Elizabeth's Little House Dean Cut-out Vintage book

Tucked away from view in the south side of the gardens of Windsor’s Royal Lodge stands a miniature thatched cottage called Y Bwthyn Bach, or The Little House. This delightful book published sometime in the nineteen fifties contains all the pieces necessary to build your own little house.


The house was presented to Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret in March 1932 on behalf of ‘the people of Wales’ on the occasion of Elizabeth’s sixth birthday.  The princesses spent many hours cleaning their tiny home and Elizabeth developed a reputation for being very neat and tidy. Over the years, the Queen’s children and grandchildren have also played in the house, and it has recently been completely refurbished.

Inside Queen Elizabeth's little house cut-out book

The dining room with white panelled walls a Welsh dresser with an array of beautiful china and a grandfather clock ticking slowly in the corner. A picture of the Queen Mother hangs over the mantelpiece and there is even a bookcase filled with Beatrix Potter’s little books to ensure the girls never grow bored.


A corner of the garden


Dookie and Jane

No home is complete without a pet (or two)



and a fairy at the bottom of the garden



Ring the front-door bell and step into the sweetest little house you ever saw!

The Royal Family pay a visit the little house c1932.
via


Vintage book

The back cover of the book showing the finished model.



Complete and in near perfect condition with just slight wear to edges of front cover Queen Elizabeth's Little House contains a build-it-yourself cardboard recreation of Y Bwthyn Bach, The Little House at Royal Lodge.  The book is undated, but I assume it was published at the time of the Queens Coronation in 1953. Arthur Groom tells the story of the building and presenting of the little house.  Queen Elizabeth's Little House is now sold, thank you for your interest.













Thanks for calling in, I hope you enjoyed visiting the little house.

Thursday 13 November 2014

Just Judy or Maybe Not!

Just Judy sounded like a catchy kind of title when I started to write this, but that was before most of the Judy annuals in stock sold. I'm now down to the last three hence the title - Just Judy – or maybe not! 

Judy for girls Judy Annuals Vintage
Judy for girls, 1970 (now sold, thank you for your interest);  Lots of stories and picture strips including Fay Farrell nurse, Skinflint School and The Dreams of Alwyn.  Judy for girls, 1962 (now sold, thank you for your interest);  Lots of colourful picture strip stories, including Sandra and the Sleeping Beauty (a ballet story), Backstage Betty, Heather in Italy, Joan all-alone, Millicent Churl, Colleen and the last witch, Tricky Trixie and Lillian Dobby. Also full-length stories, including big sister, Anna junior miss, the Queens' champion and Val of the Valley (district nurse story).  Judy for girls, 1966 (now sold thank you for your interest); First picture strip story Sandra and the snow ballet, others include Penny the post, The Bolshoi Ballet, Fay Farrell emergency nurse, Polly and her pram and Robin Redbreast of Roxell.

Lucie Attwell   Teddy Tail  Bobby Bear three vintage annuals
Lucie Attwell's Annual, 1974;  Lots of fairies, Boo-Boos and other pretty things. Illustrations by Mabel Lucie Attwell stories by Penelope Douglas. Teddy Tail Annual, 1954 (now sold, thank you for your interest); First story the giant butterfly other stories include scarecrows' day, Bobby Bear's Saturday sixpence, and Tottie's swimming pool.  Lots of other Teddy Tail Annuals in stock. Bobby Bear  Annual, 1943; First story A day's sport by Aunt Kitsie, other stories include Flowers for the colonel by Gwen Thornber, the wicked uncle by May Sullivan, Mr. Prickety changes his face by Christine E Bradley, M'Zooba of the river by W. H. Morris and a lucky escape by Maud Morin. Lots more Bobby Bear Annuals in stock. 

British Legion Children's Annual vintage c1930s Dean
British Legion Children's Annual (now sold, thank you for your interest);  Undated c1930s published by Dean, 6 La Belle Sauvage, Ludgate Hill. Deans resided at 6 La Belle Sauvage from 1933 to 1938 so that dates this annual.  First story the smuggler's cave by M. Ransome, other stories include Brown Minor's mistake by M. Gay, the lost boat by Margaret G Rhodes, Red vengeance by M. R. Sherlock, the mysterious highwayman by Arthur Groom, the wolf and the werewolf by Roma Lobel, Dixon's banishment by Eva Gray and every fag has his day by William R Bawden. We have this and one other British Legion Annual in stock at time of writing.  

TV Comic Annual from 1959, Okay Adventure Annual c1959
TV Comic, 1959; First story Muffin a tough carrot there is a second Muffin the Mule story called Muffin and the conjurer's rabbit both by Neville Main. Several picture strips, including Bengo by Tim, Bom the little drummer boy by Enid Blyton, and Lenny the lion, also full-length  stories, including Prudence Kitten's nursery school by Molly Blake. A lovely annual just full of memories.  Okay Adventure Annual; Undated c1959. First story - Order to Wellington by John Southcombe illustrated by D. May, other stories include the sea witch by D. L. G. Stainton, the glittering God of N'gai by John Southcombe and the air pirates by D. L. G. Stainton. Other Okay Adventure annuals in stock.  School Friend, 1972; Lovely vintage annual, full of stories and picture strips. First picture strip story- the ugly duckling (how Maryon Blake, of St. Winifred's became a Swan thanks to a well-known ballerina), other picture strips stories include the house of dolls, Gail Gulliver, and Bessie Bunter.TV Comic, 1959 is now sold, thank you for your interest.

Japhet and Happy vintage annual's
Jolly Gnomes Annual, 1951; First story the unhappy giant by Samuel Jeans other stories include - fun in the hayfield by Vera Bedford, the old woman and her husband by M. C. Haskins, and Father Christmas and the remarkable snowman by Cledwyn Hughes. There are also picture strips and puzzle pages. Very pretty illustrations by Ern Shaw in full colour and two tone. Sport for Girls, 1951 (now sold thank you for your interest);  Delightful annual, centre section with 16 full-page colour drawings of ladies in sport from 1851 to 1951 drawn by William Bromage also numerous black-and-white  photographs.   Japhet & the Arkubs (now sold, thank you for your interest); A British newspaper cartoon strip originally appearing in the Daily News as the Adventures of the Noah Family. This book contains picture strips and stories about the Noah Family who all live at The Ark, Ararat Avenue, London. While their two dogs, a bear, a cat and a goat live in the Little Ark in the back garden. Nice example of a very hard to find title, undated but c1928. 

Daily Mail Annuals from March House Books

I made my first purchase from an Etsy shop last week. The shop in question belongs to my lovely blogging friend Diane. I can’t show you what’s in the parcel because it’s a Christmas present for my sister (shush!) but I can show you the care Diane took with the wrapping and the lovely card that came with it. Diane's Etsy shop is here

I hope your days are filled with sunshine and pretty things...  

Thursday 6 November 2014

Lest we forget

Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London;

Terry and I decided to make the trip to London on the last day of the school holidays. There was no reason to choose that day other than the sun was shining.  The train up was busy, and the underground was manic.


Tannoy announcements were advising people not to use the underground stations close to the Tower of London but having made the two-hour trip up to town, there was nothing for it but to grit our teeth and get on with it.  We were there to pay our respects, and we were jolly well going to do so, as were the tens of thousands of other people all intent on doing the same.  


Officials were urging the public to stay away but while their pleas fell on deaf ears, they need not have worried for those that attended were a picture of dignity.  I can’t remember the last time we spoke to so many happy smiling people. It was a wonderful day, and one we will never forget.   

Poppies and People as far as the eye can see.


Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London marks one hundred years since the first full day of Britain's involvement in the First World War. Created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, with setting by stage designer Tom Piper. 


The installation will be completed on Armistice Day, when the 888,246th poppy will be planted into the lawn by a volunteer.  Each of the poppies will be sold to raise money for charities which serve British veterans, including Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion.


In memory of Private Arthur Denis Flitney (my grandfather), who was killed on 16 August 1917. Remembered with honour at the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing of the First World War.