St Marys Books

First edition hardback bound in publisher's original pale blue cloth with blue lettering to cover and spine. Ink inscription in a child's hand to ffep. Pictorial vignette to half title. Illustrated frontispiece and title page. Illustrations throughout. Binding quite rubbed, significantly to the spine and edges, with spots of discolouration and scuffs. Author's name has been drawn around in pen to the front cover. Cracking to gutter, ffep loose, text block otherwise sound. Loss to lower portion of half title/frontispiece. Pages uniformly toned to edges. Stain to top fore corner of pages 22-32. Closed tear to lower edge of page 79 reaching bottom line of text. Crayon marks to rear blanks and ink writing in a child's hand to rep. Pencil drawing to rear board, with small price sticker. Overall a fair only copy. 191 pp. The first book in the Famous Five series, which has gone on to be one of the best-selling children's series ever. Still widely read today, first editions are sought after collectibles. This first edition is particularly scarce in any condition.