The 1972 illustration above was the version I first read.It was published back in 1972 for just 20p.Mind you,20p went quite a long way in those days!
It seems amazing that we still don't know the artist for this superb cover too.
Taking another look at Ian Regan's site I wondered why he did not include any Armada 'Barney Mystery' books with all the other titles listed?
I like the cover but I'm not sure about those rocky outcrops in the background, thery make it look like they're in a foreign country or something! Yes I know we have rocky outcrops in England but the ones on this cover just reminded me of some kind of foreign wilderness like Valley of Adventure.
It would have been better with trees because they're in Ring O Bells Wood!
That was the cover I was familiar with as a child too - my sister owned the paperback, but I never actually read it in that version - I read it for the first time in the hardback edition many years later! I always loved the Armada covers - the artwork was superb and they gave a great feeling of anticipation before even opening the book. They did the job a cover should do - which is why I'm not keen on many of the modern-day covers. They don't invite you in as these did!
One thing that strikes me as looking odd in this cover illustration is the size of the well! It looks absolutely massive - much bigger and airier than I'd imagined!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
It also looks extremely low to the ground. Dinah, on the left, is standing behind the wall/rim and it barely reaches her knees! I wouldn't be surprised if people had continually fallen into that well and drowned.
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
I agree that the well is odd - and that a wood would have been more appropriate than rocky outcrops. I find many of the old Armada covers appealing, but this isn't a favourite of mine. Nevertheless, it captures an exciting moment and does indeed "invite you in", as Rob put it.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
I have also visited John's site thanks to Tony's tip off. I had many of the early Armada books, the first one I bought was Strangers At Snowfell by Malcolm Saville. I collected most of the Find Outers series as well. Most of the Peter Archer covers are brilliant.
I too love the Armada site. But then I love Armada paperbacks. That Ring o Bells cover is the one I had as a child. Looking back on it as an adult I too am amazed that more people did not fall down that well.
"What a lot of trouble one avoids if one refuses to have anything to do with the common herd. To have no job, to devote ones life to literature, is the most wonderful thing in the world. - Cicero
Interesting that the above cover seems to be very heavily based on it's predecessor - by Mary Gernat - so perhaps we shouldn't be quite so hard on the illustrator above for making the wall so low, or the well so big!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
I was just browsing John Allsup's site and realised that I have a hardback copy of Cornish Cream by John Denton which was C8 in an Armada making it one of their earliest published books. I can't remember a thing about the story though, so a re-read is in order.
I have Cornish Cream by John Denton in the Armada edition but I haven't read it in 50 years so I can't remember anything about it either, John. It's on my 'to read' list too!
"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." Oliver Goldsmith