Newly Catalogued

I've been buying a lot of new stock recently and thought you might enjoy a sneak preview.


Sweeny's Adventure written by Joseph Krumgold and told by John Kieran. The story is based on the motion picture 'Sweeney Steps out'. Sweeney and Bombo a little toy elephant have quite a time of it on a visit to the Bronx Zoo. I was immediately attracted to the Tibor Gergely artwork on the cover. The colour illustrations inside are also by Tibor Gergely. Now sold, thank you for your interest.

These Lilliput magazines came from a flea market held at the Bath & West Showground. Each and every time I buy magazines I swear it will be the last time, there is so much work involved in listing them - but honestly, how could I leave these behind? Each magazine contains a compilation of stories, poems, articles, cartoons and photographs (some a little risqué). I will be featuring more of these in a week or two, once they are all listed. All sold, thank you for your interest.

I love vintage sheet music especially when it has a great front cover like this. Can't you just hear Woody Woodpecker singing ha ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha, that's the Wood-y Wood-peck-er song? The two female woodpeckers certainly appear to be enjoying the attention!
I've bought several pieces of sheet music this month but Woody Woodpecker and the teddy bear's picnic are my favourites.
Sadly, the teddy bear’s picnic is incomplete, the seller failed to tell me the centre page was missing. It's too pretty to throw away so I've listed it with a note about condition. The teddy bear's picnic and Woody Woodpecker are now sold, thank you for your interest.

This very different looking edition of Alice through the looking glass was purchased from a bookseller’s catalogue.

It's a centenary edition prepared by the Lewis Carroll Society, with text that has never appeared in precisely this form. It is basically the 1897 edition, the last which Lewis Carroll himself corrected, but also includes all Carroll's corrections for the People's Edition of 1887, which were somehow overlooked in the preparation of the final text. There are forty remarkable drawings by Ralph Steadman; the White Knight bears a striking resemblance to the familiar photographs of Lewis Carroll himself. Now sold, thanks for looking. 






I hope you've enjoyed this quick preview.

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. 

Snowdrops and Flower Fairies

Snowdrops in our garden January, 2012

The Snowdrop fairy in flower fairies of the spring by Cicely Mary Barker Deep sleeps the winter, cold, wet, and grey; surely all the world is dead; spring is far away.  Wait! the world shall waken; it is not dead, for lo, the Fair Maids of February stand in the snow! 

Snowdrops and children on the front cover of the Snowdrop story book

The Snowdrop Story Book is now sold, thank you for your interest. 

Do you have snowdrops or fairies (or both) at the bottom of your garden?

Added Value; Book inscriptions - Baz from Colliwobbles

Widdershins Crescent

Many of the books that come into stock contain personal dedications. Often, these are simple to/from messages but sometimes the dedication offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the book.

To Baz from an everlasting pal Colliwobbles. 14th April 1969.

I would love to know if Baz and Colliwobbles are still friends. I would also love to know how Colliwobbles got his nickname. If only books could talk!

Do you have a nickname? Is it one you would be willing to share?

Cover art; A selection of Children's Annuals 1950 to 1983

To view last week's post 1883 to 1953 click here
Gracie Fields Gay Street Book 1950 twelve stories including good dog tinker by Enid Blyton, a first class brownie by D E Booth, nature ramble’s with Hedgerow Joe and police message by T. Holloway. Black and white photo frontis of Gracie Fields plus colour plates. The Tip Top Book 1954 first story the land of the other way round, other stories include one good turn and dead-eye Dave. Also picture strip stories including happy Bob Harriday, dreamy Dennis and sailor Bill Barrett. Radio Fun Annual 1956 enjoy a laugh with Norman Wisdom, Arthur Askey, Jimmy Durante and other favourite stars of radio and TV. Playways Annual 1963 several stories about the Golly boys, little Brown Bear stories told and drawn by Chris Temple,Wiggles and Woggles by Eunice Close and hidey-hole a story by Enid Blyton. All sold, thank you for your interest.
The Dandy Book 1969 Desperate Dan, Corporal Clott, Korky the Cat, the Smasher and many other favourites in this 1969 annual. Princess Gift Book for girls 1970 picture strip stories including the trolls, Barbie the model girl, school in the sun and Candy and Mandy also features, poems and short stories. Charlie Chaplin Annual 1974 collection of stories together with black and white film stills and colour cartoons. The Sparky Book 1975 Hungry Horace, Keyhole Kate, Pansy Potter, the Two Klankys, Ali's Baba and other favourites. All sold, thank you for your interest.
Woody Woodpecker Annual 1976 picture strip stories in colour. Peanuts Annual 1979 more colourful picture strips featuring Charlie Brown, Linus and Snoopy. The Secret Seven Annual 1980; the third Secret Seven annual – "puzzle for the Secret Seven" told in both text and picture strip, with projects, puzzles and quizzes. Battle Annual 1983; numerous picture strip stories including Charley's war, clash of the guards, the commando they didn't want, and Johnny Red. All sold, thank you for your interest.

I hope you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane.  It brought back lots of memories for me – my dad’s love of Norman Wisdom and Charlie Chaplin. My son watching Woody Woodpecker and Peanuts cartoons on TV, and my husband’s fondness for comic books like Commando and battle. I grew up with the Daily Mail annuals, Playbox and the Tip Top books and remember them with a great deal of affection.

I hope these bring back happy memories for you.  

Miss Pickle the story of an Australian boarding-school by Constance Mackness

Speech Day came and went, a day of bustle and excitement. What a crowd there was in the big school hall! Parents and friends filled it to overflowing; they lined the corridor at its far end and crowded the front stairs, and peeped in through the glass doors that were opened wide. To make more room, every minister that appeared was put on the platform with the members of the College Council. As one was escorted up, Lola's heart gave a great jump of joy - her father had come to see her take the dux medal! The winner of the Special Music Prize played, the winner of the Elocution Prize recited, the Doctor read his annual report, somebody made a long speech, the girls stood up in their white frocks and red ribbons and sang.

I wanted to share this with you because the covers are so pretty.

Miss. Pickle Pg. 272
By Constance Mackness, 1933.

Miss. Pickle is now sold, thank you for your interest.

To the sweetest of sweet valentines

I fill this cup to one made up of loveliness alone

To dear little Mooie with lots of love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxfrom ______?

Love-In-A-Mist Rene Cloke Postcard

Oh dear! Something went wrong – this post was scheduled for the 13th February but for some reason it’s already posted. Happy (very early) Valentine’s day!