First edition, first printing. 184pp, with coloured and black and white line drawings in text, all by Eileen Soper. Red cloth-covered boards, black lettering front and spine. Coloured illustration on endpapers. 12mo. Cloth is a little tired, gently pushed at corners and spine ends. Minor scarring in gutter on front free endpapers, some spotting and signs of handling internally. In its original dust wrapper, a little rubbed and scuffed at edges and folds, lightly shelf worn. Dust wrapper now protected in a clear plastic film sleeve, fitted without the use of tape or adhesives.
Enid Blyton's signature appears on the title page of this volume but there is no provenience to attest its authenticity. The signature is very good and close to authenticated signatures from Blyton, although the 'd' at the end of Enid is fashioned in a style Blyton sometimes used, but not matching her usual style. And the signature is positioned in an unusual place on the page - Blyton usually signed the page more centrally. As such, the volume is offered as is, and may represent an interesting project in confirming or disproving the validity of the signature. Either way, a very nice first edition copy in a good dust wrapper.
