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Original Typed Manuscript

Posted: 30 May 2007, 09:16
by Val and Jackie
Hi we are new here and look forward to joining in, it looks a great site.

We love Enid's work and have recently been very fortunate to purchase the original manuscript for the short story:

'The Girl Who Wanted a Pony'

It is complete (12 pages) and in very good condition, typed on Enid's vintage typewriter and she has hand written on the front page 'Stories by Enid Blyton'. So its signed as well! Its a little yellow but not too bad at all.

Please can anybody trace the origins of this story, when was it written and was it ever published. If not we have discovered a new short story! We have searched the web but have found nothing which is a shame.

Look forward to your replies please.

Posted: 30 May 2007, 09:22
by Anita Bensoussane
Welcome, Val and Jackie.

I've just checked the Book Listing and can't find a story of that name, but sometimes stories had their titles changed on publication.

I hope someone here will be able to help.

Anita

Posted: 30 May 2007, 12:39
by Tony Summerfield
Hi Val and Jackie, I am probably the person who might be able to help you, but I would need a bit more information.

Original manuscripts like this can really only come from two sources, either Enid Blyton's own papers or a publisher. If it came from a publisher then the story would have been published, if it wasn't published it would have been returned to Enid Blyton.

I have a number of original manuscripts in our archives, both full length books and short stories. If you sent me a scan of the first page with the bit written by Enid Blyton I might be able to help a bit more, but I haven't heard of the story and if it has never been published it needs a bit more provenance. She did write short stories for numerous sources, for both magazines and books, so it is perfectly possible that this story has been published somewhere.

My email address is tony@enidblytonsociety.co.uk - I hope to hear from you.

Posted: 31 May 2007, 13:45
by Rob Houghton
Tony: I think I remember this story, and I remember telling you I had found it a couple of years ago in a book called 'The Children's Ship' in which there was a Blyton contribution. It was quite an expensive book, so I never actually bought it, but I'm pretty sure the title of the story was 'The Girl who Wanted a Pony'.

I remember you telling me you had never heard of the story at the time!

I remember sending you details of this book at the time, too, but I havent made a note of them myself as to when it was published etc. Might have been about 1952?

Posted: 31 May 2007, 18:07
by Tony Summerfield
You are absolutely right Rob, you sent me details of the book - but can I find them, no!! I have spent two hours searching through hundreds of files without any luck at all.

As a last resort I have had to go and buy a copy of the book!! One of the joys of the internet is that at least you often find something you want in a hurry. Obviously I checked first to see if it had that story in it and you are right again it did!

Many thanks for jogging my memory, as I am pretty sure that this story has not been published anywhere else.

Posted: 31 May 2007, 21:07
by Rob Houghton
Glad I was able to be of some help, Tony. Hope we get to hear more about the story/ manuscript. Maybe the buyers could write a short piece about it for the journal?

Posted: 31 May 2007, 21:09
by Anita Bensoussane
Intriguing stuff!

Posted: 01 Jun 2007, 08:55
by Val and Jackie
Tony and Robert, thanks so much for all your help and we have also ordered a copy!

Yes we will do something for the Journal if we are able, as it is a very interesting item.

We also have an item from an EB quiz in the Evening Standard in 1950, which is complete. It includes a beautiful signed picture of EB with her spaniel, her old typewriter and papers spilling out from an old suit case. Probably taken in the grounds of Green Hedges? She has signed it 'Love from Enid Blyton'. The quiz was won by Miss Diana Potts of Iford! This super piece did not come easily or cheaply, to say the least, but was well worth the effort!

Re: ORIGINAL TYPED MANUSCRIPT

Posted: 28 Dec 2016, 13:44
by pete9012S
Did this story ever feature in the Journal?
I have tried to search via the index provided by Lenoir,but not been able to find anything?

Here's a bit about the illustrator TS La Fontaine;

http://lafontaineartist.com/photo-gallery/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: ORIGINAL TYPED MANUSCRIPT

Posted: 28 Dec 2016, 14:09
by sixret
Good digging, Pete as I am interested in any newfound story by Enid Blyton. How amazing! The story that had long been buried has finally been found. Even Tony and Anita, the two connoisseurs, had never heard of that story before!

Re: Original Typed Manuscript

Posted: 28 Dec 2016, 14:22
by Rob Houghton
should anyone want a 'cheap' reading copy - with some colouring of illustrations - its for sale here -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THE-CHILDRENS ... XQeKNTMczP

Re: Original Typed Manuscript - The Girl Who Wanted A Pony

Posted: 04 Dec 2022, 10:15
by pete9012S
Image
THE CHILDREN'S SHIP
First edition: 1950
Publisher: James Barrie
Illustrator: Uncredited
Category: Miscellaneous 40s & 50s Books
Genre: Mixed
Type: Blyton Contributions
The Girl Who Wanted a Pony
Illustrations: T.S. LaFontaine
Story: Specially Written
Well, I'm still trying to track down this elusive story: The Girl Who Wanted a Pony
(We do have a copy of The Christmas Pony in Journal 70)

Has anyone read it/got it?

It doesn't seem to have appeared in any other publications or The Journal unless I am mistaken?

Here's a glimpse of the book the story is in:

Image
Image
Image

I may have to buy the book to read this elusive story!

Here's some info about the books compiler, Lady Cynthia Asquith:
Image
Lady Cynthia Mary Evelyn Asquith (née Charteris; 27 September 1887 – 31 March 1960) was an English writer and socialite, known for her ghost stories and diaries.[1] She also wrote novels, edited a number of anthologies, wrote for children and covered the British Royal family.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Cynthia_Asquith