The Enid Blyton Society

Which versions of this book do you own?
I have the red boarded version and a knight paperback too.

Ah, that explains the mystery behind your Facebook post!

I have quite a few versions of this book: 1951 - Hodder, 1978 - knight, 1983 - knight, 1997 - Hodder, and 2012 - Hodder.

I've got a 1987 Knight edition with Betty Maxey illustrations, and a 1997 Hodder edition with Eileen Soper illustrations.

I've got the hard backed version with dust cover illustrated by Eileen Soper.

Just look at the entry in the Cave and you can see which versions I have got!

I have got a 1963 edition with red boards, it's the thirteenth impression.

I think I have 5 hardbacks - all different editions and the original paperback, the one with the first TV characters on it, the one with the very detailed drawings and a much later paperback - I do like this book!

I've only got the 1997 Hodder edition of this book. To be fair, it's not that bad.

1978 Knight paperback with Betty Maxey illustrations and a photo from the TV series of that time on the cover. I was a bit young to really follow the TV show when it was on, but still remember us watching it!

Has anyone ever seen this version with Betty Maxey illustrations??

According to the Cave, the Knight paperback with that cover had Eileen Soper illustrations inside. After that came the 1974 Brockhampton edition which had internal illustrations and cover by Betty Maxey. The next Knight paperback edition was 1978, which had internal illustrations by Betty Maxey but a 1970s TV series cover.

pete9012S wrote:

Has anyone ever seen this version with Betty Maxey illustrations??

Back in around 1971, I had a copy of that paperback - always hated that cover! I'm sure it had the Eileen Soper originals inside though
I now have a lovely red-board H&S July, 1950 - Fifth impression. Can't find the paperback...

Deej wrote:I've only got the 1997 Hodder edition of this book. To be fair, it's not that bad.

I have that one too and I love the cover illustration of that edition.

yarvelling wrote:

pete9012S wrote:

Has anyone ever seen this version with Betty Maxey illustrations??

Back in around 1971, I had a copy of that paperback - always hated that cover! I'm sure it had the Eileen Soper originals inside though
s??

Incidentally, this was the first Famous Five, if not Enid Blyton, book I bought with my own money in 1970. In our culture where the swapping of books was and is still common, I lent it to several students in my Primary School class and by the time I got it back, it was almost unrecognizable. I vividly recall that it had Eileen Soper's illustrations in it at the time.
Stephen I.