The Enid Blyton Society

Tony Summerfield wrote:

Rob Houghton wrote:I agree. I'm afraid I was a bit startled that IceMaiden, on another thread, told us she had bought a first edition of Five On A Treasure Island for £30 - with no wrapper.

I think you will find that it was actually a 3rd edition, Rob!

It sounded as if it was a first - or maybe a second? -

"I've just gone a bit mad on eBay and won a 1942 edition Five On a Treasure Island for £31 . I never expected to win, I though I'd have been well and truly outbid, got a shock when I came up as the winning bidder! I'm not complaining though, I never thought in a million years I'd get such an early edition at a price within my limits "

The most I ever paid for a Famous Five without a dust wrapper was when I first started collecting them in 2000 and I didn't really know what prices were common. That was £8 for my 1951 edition of Smuggler's Top!

No, it was a 3rd, Rob, I checked it out on eBay when she first posted. Have a look at the fourth picture along. I actually have that edition myself as well as my 1st, I kept it as it has a perfect wrapper. As you can see there were three editions in 1942 and as a result they didn't need to bring the 4th out until 1947.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Five-on-a-Tre ... 7675.l2557" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks Tony - I wondered if there were more than one or two editions for 1942, but was too lazy to check!

I certainly wouldn't pay £31 for a third edition without a wrapper (no disrespect to IceMaiden intended, by the way) - but then I'm very picky and prefer dust-wrappers, especially on my main series books.

I saw this programme this afternoon, and felt the price was surprisingly high. I think the man who sold it said he'd paid £800 and had never seen another for sale in 12 years. I forgot to check when the programme was made, but I'm sure I've seen them on E-bay from time to time, and they don't normally ask such a high figure. Although I'm happy to be corrected by anyone who knows differently.

I was also slightly alarmed that the man who bought it did so for his children, I hope they take good care of it.