Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1948], 1947

My fascination with the BBC annuals has been told in a previous post and here we continue and having dated the books, I want to present the evidence for the dating and also the contents of this particular book.

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1948], 1947, artwork by Bruno Kay

This book was published by Sampson Low at 7s 6d as can be seen above in 1947 – thus my labelling of the annual as 1948. The cover shows various tales to entice the reader in. Because of the difficulty in dating these Uncle Mac books I call this one the ‘pirate one’. However, adverts in The Bookseller show a book with the same title was published for the Christmas 1947 market along with Uncle Mac’s Fairy Tale Book. The article also mentions Enid Blyton’s Second Holiday Book which the Enid Blyton Society confirms was published in 1947. The book listing when published states it has 126 pages – which this one does.

Interestingly one dustjacket I’ve seen (see below) shows an Uncle Mac line drawing with space for “This Book Belongs to…” and “A gift from…” and in the corner with the 7s 6d price it says “If this book is intended as a gift, the price can be snipped off by cutting along this line”. So we can see here and in other annuals they were reprinted during their sales period as this text is missing from my copy, which I find interesting – why not just reprint the dustjacket as it was? Or have I got this the wrong way round and the plain dustjacket was first?

The endpapers for this book aren’t worth showing (the left hand page can be seen here), but the title page and Contents are.

Dustjacket with price plus text

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947 – Title page – Art by Helen Jacobs?

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Contents Page – Art by Helen Jacobs?

But who drew the two images above? They certainly look like Helen Jacobs’ work to me but usually she would sign her work as she does for one story in this book..

Compare the two title pages below. The first from a later title in this informal annual series (Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Book [1949, 1948] with the ‘balloons’ cover) – and the second from this (Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947) – the ‘pirate’ cover). Look carefully – Bruno Kay drew the left hand page of the latter but both editions have used Emil Weiss’ art on the right hand page – the signature’s there for all to see – as is Kay’s on the left hand page! Strange goings on!

No artists are credited in this particular book but fortunately some have signed their work and others are already known to me. Where I have ANY doubt I have added question marks after their credit but this has been one of the worst for lack of credits both by the publisher and myself!

CONTENTS

• THE CREAKY CARAVAN, by KEN FRANCIS; Drawings by Norman Meredith
• CHRISTMAS IN OTHER LANDS, by DEREK MCCULLOCH; Drawings by ?
• LUCY, by MERYON VANCE; Drawings by ?
• SELINA THE SWISS COW, by NORAH LEWIS; Drawings by ?
• WATCHING BIRDS FROM A HIDE, by ERIC HOSKING, F.R.P.S., AND CYRIL NEWBERRY; Drawings by J. N. A. Rignall
• PUZZLES, by LIEUT.-COMMANDER R. T. GOULD; Drawings by ?
• THE CHAMELEON, CAMOUFLAGE AND ALL THAT, by DR. VEVERS; Drawings by ‘Willett’
• THE GREEN VEIL, by OLIVE DEHN; Drawings by ?
• MISCHIEVOUS MICHAEL, by EDWARD D. DICKINSON; Drawings by ?
• THE MOUSE ON THE SCROLL, by DAPHNE LEA; Drawings by ?
• NANKI, by MERYON VANCE; Drawings by ?
• MORE PUZZLES, by LIEUT.-COMMANDER R. T. GOULD; Drawings by ?
• BILL AYLESBURY GOES ON THE STAGE, by GEOFFREY DEARMER; Drawings by ?
• A TREAT FOR MRS. TOLLINGTON, by GERALD BULLETT; Drawings by ?
• MISS BUSHMAN-CALDICOTT, by ROSEMARY TONKS; Drawings by Helen Jacobs
• ANSWERS TO PUZZLES, by LIEUT.-COMMANDER R. T. GOULD; Drawings by ?
• ANSWERS TO MORE PUZZLES, by LIEUT.-COMMANDER R. T. GOULD; Drawings by ?
• THE CROCODILE WHO HAD TERRIBLE TOOTHACHE, by EILEEN POYNDER; Drawings by Anne Anderson?

ART GALLERY and Norman’s comments!

A drawing by “Astrid” on one of the introductory pages – but who is he or more likely she?

The first story in this book is signed very helpfully by Norman Meredith and is dated 1947 which helps me with dating this book. He is remembered for his cute animal art and the Chris Beetle Art gallery has a short biography plus examples of his artwork

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 10 – Art by Norman Meredith for the “Creaky Caravan”

There aren’t many others who have signed or are credited, so here goes.

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 20 – Art by ? – “Christmas in Other lands”

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 24 – Art by ? – for the story of “Lucy”

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 32 – Art by ? “Selina the Swiss Cow”

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 46 – Art by ? This accompanies the first puzzle page

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 56 – Art by ? “The Green Veil”

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 64 – Art by ? “Mischievous Michael”

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 72 – Art by ? “The Mouse of the Scroll”

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 76 – Art by ? for “Nanki”

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 88 – Art by ? “Bill Aylesbury goes on the stage”

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 96 – Art by ? “A treat for Mrs. Tollington”

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 108 – Art by Helen Jacobs for “Miss Bushman-Caldicott”

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Story Book [1948], 1947- Page 119 – Art by ?

So as you can see I’ve not had much success with this early “Uncle Mac” book. The single colours overlaying the art doesn’t help clarity but if you can hazard a guess and help me out, I’d be grateful for any identifications. Artists need crediting for their work and not be forgotten! Thanks, Norman