BBC Children’s Annual 1955

The jumping point for all the Children’s Hour, BBC Annuals and Uncle Mac’s Annual is here

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Cover by Joanna Curzon

Today I want to look closer at the B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 which was edited for the first time by Freda Lingstrom (taking over from ‘Elizabeth’ (May E. Jenkin) and dropped the ‘Hour’ for the previous annual title of BBC Children’s Hour Annual. It should also be noted that the dustjacket states no date but the title page does.

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Endpapers by Lotte Reiniger. The front papers are red and the back ones blue

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 -Contents page – art by Patricia Cullen

• Shooting With A Camera by Armand Denis; [illustrated by ?]
• The Cabin in the Clearing by Felix Felton and Susan Ashman; [illustrated by S. Van Abbé]
• Make Yourself a Pair of Stilts; [illustrated by author?]
• Magic is Fun by Robert Harbin; [illustrated by author?]
• Children’s Newsreel by Don Smith; [photos]
• The Skaters by Noel Streatfeild-; [illustrated by Joanna Curzon]
• Lions in the Garden by Marjorie Juta; [illustrated by Aldwyn Carpenter]
• Edmund Hillary stands on the Top of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary; [illustrated by ? ]
• The Missing Patient by Anthony C. Wilson; [illustrated by Tom Kerr]
• Seashore by John Merrett; [illustrated by ? ]
• The Appleyards Burglar Alarm by Allan Cooper; [illustrated by Tom Kerr + photos]
• All Your Own by Michael Westmore; [photos]
• Making A Start with Oils by Mervyn Levy; [illustrated by the author?]
• Operation Asteroid by Angus MacVicar; [illustrated by ?]
• Jennings at School by Anthony Buckeridge; [illustrated by S. Van Abbé]
• The King’s Bell by Rhoda Power; [illustrated by Betty Ladler]
• Trojan and Tilly: The Story of a Television Ballet by Naomi Capon; [illustrated by ?]
• The Golden Head by William Harris; [illustrated by ?]
• Gliding Today by Peter Dimmock; [illustrated by Pafford]
• Snowflakes and Diamonds by James McCloy; [illustrated by ?]
• What is an O.B.? by Stephen Wade; [illustrated by ?]
• What Do You Know? by A. J. Royds; illustrated by ?]
• Watermanship Joanne Jackson and Gil Redgrove; [illustrated by ?]
• What Did You Know? by A. J. Royds; [illustrated by ?]

The following artists are credited but who did what? I’ve identified a few above, and emboldened those I can’t be certain of:

• Aldwyn Carpenter
• Van Abbé
• Eileen Diss
• Pafford
• Tom Kerr
• John Woods (see below)
• Patricia Cullen
• Betty Ladler
• Lotte Reiniger
• Joanna Curzon
• Kathleen Burrell

They don’t appear to be in any order to me either!

GALLERY OF ART with queries as to which artist drew what.

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Cover by Joanna Curzon

It was Glenn Reuben who helped identify the artist Joanna Curzon who drew three covers for the BBC Children’s Annuals for 1955-1957. She also drew the Noel Streatfeild story in the 1955 annual (see below). Besides these annuals she is credited with Five Shilling Holiday and So Guy came Too, both written by Lorna-Hill and also Gipsy of Greywalls by Judith Carr.

Glenn also provided this information:

“Hugh Russell Hall was born in Dundee, Scotland February 28, 1905 and died September 20, 1984 in Halstead, Essex. He also worked as an illustrator, under the name Paul Rainer. In1924, he married Isobel Wallace Watson, and they had a daughter, Audrey, born in 1931. His second wife was Doreen Iris Hall (nee Cole), born February 12, 1923 and died December 25, 1997. She was an illustrator who used the name of Joanna Curzon”! Thanks Glenn

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – page 29 by Joanna Curzon

I’m reliably informed (thanks Jenny C.) that this story is a continuation of the life of the two girls in the book White Boots.

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 -page 36 by Joanna Curzon

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Page 47 by Tom Kerr

Take a look at the next two images below. It took a moment to realise I was looking at a mirrored image with “ALDWYN” as the signature! Nice drawings too by Aldwyn Carpenter

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 -page 69

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 -Close-up

And this isn’t the only mirrored image in the book but interestingly this one has the word / name “SWART” in the story “The Golden Head”, yet, the blackboard is the right way round! Is this supposed to be a child’s graffiti on the desk?

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Page 103 by ??

My good friend David Slinn supplied the following regarding John Woods – could the above be by him?

“John Woods, born in 1904, was still contributing to Bunty and Debbie during the late-1970s.  This contents listing in the 1955 BBC Childrens Annual, is contemporary with his contributions to Swift Annual No.1 (1954) and No.2 (1955); in 1956, he started to draw ‘Andy and Sandy’ for Radio Fun – much earlier, also handled by Tom Kerr – later, continuing when the title merged with Buster, until the series ended in 1962.  He worked from a studio just off Fleet Street, interestingly, shared with Edgar Spenceley.

As well as a prolific contributor to DC Thomson’s girls’ titles, primarily Bunty, Judy, Mandy, Debbie and the associated annuals, he also tackled a considerable number of ‘Zip Nolan’ weekly episodes in Lion.  During 1959-60, for Robin’s centre-spread he provided colour illustrations, incorporating hidden objects, of events or activities; together with occasional, “things to do” features.” – Thanks David – perhaps he drew some of the puzzles then?

The next one, I’m showing knowing Enid Blyton fans may enjoy knowing Ladler’s work appears here. Her brief biography can be found on Wikipedia.

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Page 91 by Betty Ladler

And lastly I’d love help identifying the following artist whose work appears in the story “Watermanship”

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Page 121 by unknown but my friend David Slinn suggested “Robert (Bob) Bunkin, who came to real prominence with the adaptation of ‘Jane Eyre’ for Girl“

Odhams – The Children’s Golden Treasure Book series: Part 4 – 1939

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for1939 – Cover by ?

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for1939 – Endpapers by Alfred E. Kerr

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for1939 – Title page by ?

So here we are at 1939. If you’ve been following along in chronological order (1935, 1937, and 1938) this will follow the same route. I’ve typed up the Contents to make them searchable for others to find via search engines. Then I’ve decided to show various pieces from the book based solely on my curiosity

CONTENTS

• Unexpected Visitors by Compton Mackenzie; illustrated by Edgar Spenceley
• The Adventures of Lung Mei by Karl Thoeri; illustrated by René Bull
• Decorated Glasswork by Neal Sutton  
• Teddy Bear’s Picnic by Denis Clark; illustrated by Ronald Lampitt
• The Three Horrid Men by G. Dewi Roberts; illustrated by John Lewis
• Little Silk-Wing by Charles G. D. Roberts; illustrated by Raymond Sheppard
• [Photogravure supplement: What Happens When You Post a Letter]
• The Isle of Pleasures by Fénélon; illustrated by Leslie Bowyer
• Jenny Kiss’d Me by Leigh Hunt; illustrated by Joyce Pumstead
• The Hour and the Man by Richard Bird; illustrated by Clixby Watson
• The Little Gentleman by Anon
• “Round the Table” Games by unknown; [illustrated by E. Moorey]
• The Man Who was Turned into a Bluebottle by J. B. Morton; illustrated by James Short
• Raffia Remembrances by Neal Sutton; [illustrated by the author?]
• Trial in Toyland by Agnes Reed; illustrated by A. Brunton
• [“You must keep it somewhere quite safe,” said the rocking horse, “for there isn’t another like it in the world”; illustrated by A. Brunton FACING PAGE 96]
• [It was of no use now to cry or scream; he was obliged to do it all; illustrated by Ronald Lampitt FACING PAGE 97]
• The House Next Door by Mary Charteris; illustrated by Cavania Sanders
• The Journey by Fanny Fern; illustrated by Bernard Venables
• “Mole Transport, Ltd” by F. W. G. Clinton; illustrated by [M.] Lack
• Can You Read This? by unknown
• Suppose by Walter De La Mare; illustrated by Alfred Kerr
• [And across the green moat on the drawbridge, we foamed and we snorted; illustrated by Alfred E. Kerr FACING PAGE 128]
• [She suddenly found herself on a platform dazzling with light, and a thousand feet below her, a whole fantastic Avignon; illustrated by James Short FACING PAGE 129]
• Snapshot Success by Neal Sutton; [illustrated by unknown / the author?]
• The Inquisitive Girl by Anon; illustrated by C. W. Hodges
• [Smiles by unknown]
• Demba and the Lions by Jane Redyard; illustrated by Lack
• The Jolly Sailor by Phyllis Mégroz; illustrated by Ban
• Maureen to the Rescue! by Meum Stewart; illustrated by Fearnley
• King Louis and the Husbandman by Anon; illustrated by Jack Matthew
• The Three Pheasants by Mary Richards; illustrated by Cavania Sanders
• The Naughty Goblin by Rose Fyleman; illustrated by May Smith
• Rufus Rebels by B. L. Kearley; illustrated by Illingworth
• [Photogravure supplement: Tower Bridge and the Tower of London]
• The Children’s Hour by H. W. Longfellow; [illustrated by unknown]
• Snork’s Bad Men by Elizabeth Lesley; illustrated by Küpper Sacks
• Timothy Thomas’s Christmas Tree by Mary Garde; illustrated by Kiddell Monroe
• The Stolen Plans by John V. Trevor; illustrated by F. Hogg
• Some Party Games by unknown; [illustrated by E. Moorey]
• A Good Time for Florrie by Tony Mason; illustrated by Cyril Holloway
• The Third Lamp-post by Stephen Southwold; illustrated by Peter Probyn
• [Cut-out Borders]
• The Battle of Hawthorn Hut by Edward Chapman; illustrated by Yates Wilson
• Toys from Odds and Ends by Mabel White; [illustrated by the author?]
• [Answers to the problems on Page 228; [illustrated by E. Moorey]
• [Photogravure supplement:  Pets With Personality]
• Games With Dominoes by unknown; [illustrated by E. Moorey]
• Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe; [Illustrated by ?]
• The Oyster Patties by Anon.; illustrated by Ronald Lampitt
• “The Trial of the “Tigers” by Arthur Groom; illustrated by Brett
• [Interlude for humour; [Illustrated by ?]
• Every Doll’s Wardrobe by Neal Sutton;[illustrated by the author?]
• Paper Lace Mats by unknown ;[illustrated by ?]
• The Manor Farm Fires by Robin Walton; illustrated by Martin Tyas
• The Monkey on the Barrel Organ by Mrs. Molesworth; illustrated by Jack Matthew
• Ribbon Weaving by Neal Sutton; [illustrated by the author?]
• The Pope’s Mule by Alphonse Daudet; illustrated by James Short
• More Games to Play by unknown; [illustrated by E. Moorey]
• Smuggler’s Cove by Kevin Ryan; illustrated by Yates Wilson
• [Photogravure supplement: Radio and television review]
• Silhouettes by unknown; [illustrated by ?]
• Flower Collecting by Neal Sutton; [illustrated by the author?]
• [The game of Consequences by unknown; [illustrated by ?]
• Oh Dear Dear! by Ronald Frankau; illustrated by Lola Onslow
• The Neighbours by Hans Andersen; illustrated by Jack Matthew

VARIOUS ARTWORK AND MY THOUGHTS

This collection of illustrations are all drawn by “E. Moorey” who I now wonder, whether they were a staff artist at Odhams whose function might have been to do ‘fillers’ and any other art needed, but that’s purely speculation! Nevertheless I like the simplicity of line and the design of these headers and illos. The only real reference I can find in the 1939 Register is for an Eric M. Moorey, born 1902, living in 1939 at 6, Norbury Court Road, Croydon who is listed as having an “artist-designer” occupation. Could this be the same Eric Monckton Moorey born in 1902 in Hampshire? [UPDATE: He was Eric Monckton Moorey (1902-1973)]

Again I’ve drawn a blank looking for “A. Brunton”. His, or more likely her, art uses a dry brush approach in black and white and the only work I could find online was this very image which has obviously caught the imagination. I wondered whether she could be Audrey Brunton, born on 1 September 1897 who is listed in the 1939 Register as a “Commercial Artist”, living in Frieth, a village in the parish of Hambleden, in Buckinghamshire. But no further details on the person. Can anyone help?

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for1939 – facing page 96- Art by A. Brunton

In the previous article I noted “Lack” as the artist of a story and in this illustration I can add their initial “M. Lack” but beyond that I have nothing! The Contents just say ‘Lack’

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for1939 – page 123- Art by M. Lack

The next image comes from the story “The Pope’s Mule” which is illustrated in black and white by James Short. But I noticed the signature at the top left which looks like “James Short [Dempsey? / Hennessy?] Again I’ve searched a lot of places and books but no joy. Anyone want to have a guess? The vertiginous tower reminds me of M. C. Escher. Short’s black and white art offer no clues to his other name – as only one is signed and that says “Short”.

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for1939 – facing page 129- Art by James Short [X?]

The next one is here as I’ve looked at the BBC books and annuals of Children’s Hour. The artist has signed this ‘R’ in the bottom right hand corner

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for1939 – page 182- Art by ‘R’

And the last piece from me is this one as a representation of [William] Yates Wilson’s work here. He drew a lot of John Bull covers as well as British information posters. The reason I’ve highlighted his work here is that he is the only person I’ve seen use letraset/ zip-a-tone in his drawings.

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for1939 – page 299 Art by Yates Wilson

CONCLUSION

I own both the above and also the reprint of 1946 which I’ll cover in a separate post but the bulk of contents are the same

NEXT: Odhams – The Children’s Golden Treasure Book series: Part 5 – 1946 reprint!

Odhams – The Children’s Golden Treasure Book series: Part 3 – 1938

So far I’ve written about Odhams’ “The Children’s Golden Treasure Book” for 1935, 1937 and now we are on 1938 or to give it its full title “The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938” .

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 – Cover by ?

I wish I knew who drew the cover inlay, but I don’t and I suspect they also drew the endpapers

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 – Endpapers by ?

I have typed up the contents page below and added any artists I can identify either through internal knowledge, but I’d love help with those I can’t even hazard a guess.

• Nose, the Dwarf by William Hauff; Illustrated by Alfred E. Kerr
• Three Plum Buns by Christina Rossetti
• London Snow by Robert Bridges; [Illustrated by ‘Roth’]
• Games with Pencil and Paper by unknown; [Illustrated by E. Moorey]
• Proverbs in Brief  by unknown
• The Robin and the Wren by unknown; [Illustrated by ?]
• The Clue by Music by John V. Trevor; Illustrated by V. Cooley
• [Photogravure section: Round the Queen Mary]
• Three Blind Mice by Edgar Thornton; Illustrated by Edgar Thornton
• Peter’s First Flight by John Creasy; Illustrated by Glossop
• Missing Word Puzzle by unknown; [Illustrated by E. Moorey]
• Monty’s White Spats by Phyllis Peattie; Illustrated by E. Robinson
• Lazy Lawrence by Maria Edgeworth; Illustrated by Douglas Relf
• A Holiday Note Book by Neal Sutton; [Illustrated by the author?]
• The Ballad of Father Gilligan by W. B. Yeats; [Illustrated by ‘K-M’ / Joan Kiddell-Monroe?]
• The Hill-Man and the House-Wife by Juliana Horatia Ewing; Illustrated by Joyce Mercer
• Touring England (Puzzle) by unknown
• Some Party Games by unknown; [Illustrated by E. Moorey]
• The Hind in the Wood by Mme. D’Aulnoy; Illustrated by Jack Matthew
• [Photogravure section: London to Paris without leaving your train]
• Nurse’s Song by William Blake; [Illustrated by ?]
• Garden Gadgets by Neal Sutton; Illustrated by E. Moorey
• Jokes and Riddles by unknown
• The Fisherman and the Mermaid by Lillian Bradstock; Illustrated by Vernon Soper
• The First Reserve by Gerald Blake; Illustrated by Burgess
• How Much Do You Know? by unknown
• The Glove and the Lions by Leigh Hunt; [Illustrated by ?]
• Jill, Jack and Kenneth by Molly Campbell; Illustrated by George Soper
• Simple Modelling by Neal Sutton; [Illustrated by ?]
• The Fairies’ Passage by James Clarence Mangan; Illustrated by Joyce Mercer
• “Oh dear, what a rushing, what pushing, what crushing!” FACING PAGE 160; Illustrated by Joyce Mercer
• He presented the phial to the Fair with Golden Hair FACING PAGE 161; Illustrated by Garth Jones
• The Fair with Golden Hair by Mme. D’Aulnoy; Illustrated by Garth Jones
• The Boy at Mugby Junction by Charles Dickens; Illustrated by F. Cockerton
• Can You Solve These? (Puzzles) by unknown
• Some Hints on Home Theatricals by Neal Sutton ; [Illustrated by ?]
• Virgilius the sorcerer by Anon; Illustrated by A. E. Watson
• Virgilius pretended to be much astonished at the apparition FACING PAGE 192; Illustrated by A. E. Watson
• He found her, seated upon a low sofa, bathed in tears FACING PAGE 193; Illustrated by Lola Onslow
• Interval for Laughter  by unknown
• The Pea-Green Nose by E. H. Knatchbull-Hugessen; Illustrated by Lola Onslow
• Pocahontas by W. M. Thackeray; [Illustrated by ?]
• Can You Read This? (Puzzle) by unknown
• Games on the Beach by unknown; Illustrated by E. Moorey
• The Lady in the Tower by Mary Garde; Illustrated by ‘B. Y.’
• Pistol Point Jack by Robin Walton; Illustrated by Gelli
• [Photogravure section: Wonders of the Air]
• Have You a Match? by unknown
• The Magic Clock by Karl Thceri; Illustrated by Cavania Sanders
• Easy Crossword Puzzle by unknown
• Knots by Robin Walton; Illustrated by V. Cooley
• The Grandle Witch by S. Malcolm Kirk; Illustrated by Eileen Soper
• Crossword Puzzles by unknown                
• Making Inexpensive Gifts by Neal Sutton; [Illustrated by the author?]
• Tricky Business (Puzzle) by unknown; [Illustrated by E. Moorey?]
• Alice Brand by Sir Walter Scott; [Illustrated by Matthew?]
• Collecting Sea-shells by Neal Sutton; [Illustrated by the author?]
• Dingy and Pips by Anton Lind; Illustrated by Kenneth Brookes
• “Thinking Things” by Eileen Holker; [Illustrated by Giro Wood]
• Book-binding by Neal Sutton; [Illustrated by E. Moorey / and author?]
• The Babie by Hugh Miller; [Illustrated by Joyce Plumstead?]
• Molly Make-believe by Catherine Christian; Illustrated by C. Jackson
• Can You Read This? (Puzzle) by unknown
• Benny One-too-many by Christine Chaundler; Illustrated by Winifred M. Ackroyd
• Old Ragged Jacket by Edgar Thornton; Illustrated by Edgar Thornton
• [Photogravure section: Behind the Screen]
• The Broken Pitcher by Bon Gaultier; Illustrated by John Harris
• The Compton Romance by F. Drake-Carnell; Illustrated by John Harris
• The Fairies of the Caldon-Low by Mary Howitt; [Illustrated by F. E. Kent?]
• The Sea Queen’s Necklace by Mary Richards; Illustrated by George Soper
• Crossword Puzzle by unknown
• The Magic Flute by Lucretia S. McGain; Illustrated by H. M. Lack
• A Strange Creature (Puzzle) by unknown; [Illustrated by ?]
• The Darkest Dungeon by Mary Richards; Illustrated by Burgess
• The Blackbird by Humbert Wolfe
• Puzzled by Eileen Holker; [Illustrated by Giro Wood]
• The Heroes by Richard Bird; Illustrated by Kenneth Brookes
• Puzzles by unknown
• Card Games by unknown; [Illustrated by E. Moorey?]
• ” Mademoiselle, Signorina and Fraulein ” by Neal Sutton; Illustrated by E. B. Thurstan

Now here’s a gallery with comments

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 -p. 13 Art by Alfred E. Kerr

Is he any relation to the comic artist Tom Kerr, about whom not much is known beyond his comic output?

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 – p.36 Art by ‘Roth’

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 – p.37 Art by ‘Roth’

I liked this atmospheric snow scene in London with accompanying poem.

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 – p.36 Art by ‘KM’

Could this be by Joan Kiddell-Monroe? Have a look at her other works here and decide for yourself

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 – p.209 Art by Lola Onslow – note the initials

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 – p.267 Art by ‘Matthew’ and comparing this art to the credited story “The Hind in the Wood” it does match

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 – p.285 Art by Giro Wood

You might ask how I could read that tiny square even enlarging the image. The answer is I couldn’t. But later in the book…

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 – p.332 Art by Giro Wood

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 – p.311 Art by John Harris – thankfully credited as his signature is a hard one to interpret

The Children’s Golden Treasure Book for 1938 – p.317 Art by F. E. Kent? Can anyway confirm or deny this?

Now to round off this book, I have a gallery of an artist that caused me some puzzlement and I’d love to know more about them. Their name is E. Moorey, an unusual name but I can’t find anything! I love his linework and simple clair ligne style. [UPDATE: He was Eric Monckton Moorey (1902-1973)]