Other Miscellanea
Biography - Biggles
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Biggles, The Authorised Biography | Sidgwick & Jackson (1978) |
| 311pp, blue boards, gilt lettered spine, dustjacket. | ||
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Biggles, The Authorised Biography | Hamlyn Paperbacks (1980) |
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311pp, paperback, price GBP1.50.
An infamous retelling of Biggles life. Most revered (reviled?) for having Biggles steal a Spitfire at his end of days and fly off into the sunset. Interesting way to end the tale. | ||
Biography - Capt W.E. Johns
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By Jove, Biggles! | W.H.Allen (1981) |
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Subtitled "The Life of Captain W.E.Johns", written by Peter Berresford Ellis & Piers Williams.
306pp, hardback with dustjacket, photo illustrations. | ||
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By Jove, Biggles! | Comet Books (1985) |
| Reprint, paperback. No other details available. | ||
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Biggles! | Veolce Publishing (1993) |
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Subtitled "The Life Story of Captain W.E.Johns", written by Peter Berresford Ellis & Jennifer Schofield.
Revised and updated version of "By Jove" with a change of author.
320pp, hardback, red boards, dustjacket. | ||
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By Jove, Biggles! | Norman Wright (2003) |
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Subtitled "The Life Story of Captain W.E.Johns", written by Peter Berresford Ellis & Jennifer Schofield.
277pp, paperback, no illustrations. Individually numbered copies in print of run of 300 only. | ||
Other Books
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The Biggles Annual | Hodder & Stoughton (1980) |
59pp, hardback, laminated boards. Eclectic mix of facts and fiction, including
an abridged Biggles and the Plane that Disappeared as well as a couple
of picture stories:
Price GBP1.95. | ||
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The Biggles Book of Heroes | Max Parrish (1959) |
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A collection of 12 articles by Johns on a range of heroic figures. A 3 page intro from Johns provides the tenuous link on why Biggles is interested in the contents: From the time he was able to read nothing had thrilled Biggles more than stories of derring-do.. In the following pages will be found some of the names and exploits of those who are largely responsible for making Biggles what he was. 156pp, hardback, green boards, yellow dustcover. Price 10/6. Jacket design and illustrations by William Randell. | ||
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The Biggles Book of Treasure Hunting | Max Parrish (1962) |
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Similar to the Book of Heroes, this one offers a collection of articles on treasure and treasure hunting.
A mix of locations, legends and characters.
144pp, hardback, red boards, yellow dustcover. Price 10/6. Jacket design and illustrations by William Randell. | ||
Stamps and Postcards
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Lundy Envelope | Lundy (1980s?) |
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Lundy is a small island in the Bristol Channel, England. Since the 1920s they've released special commemorative first day covers, complete with fake stamps
featuring the island trademark, the puffin.
This envelope, addressed to Biggles in Marinique (while with 266 squadron) was actually produced to remember the sinking of the lusitania. | ||
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Biggles the Stamp | Royal Mail (Feb 1994) |
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Biggles was one of a series of stamps commemorating classic children's story characters. The full set was:
All stamps were first class. And, as was the standard at that time, all were also issued as postcards (and for my sins, I used to collect these!). For full, train-spotting level, details of the stamps go to Collect GB Stamps. | ||
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Nostalgia in the Air Postcard Series | Hawk Books (1996) |
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A collection of six postcards reproducing some of Johns aviation-related artwork. Tenuous link to Biggles (other than Johns obviously) is that some of these paintings were used as artwork within/out published editions of his books. The six postcards are described as originally presented with "Ranger" magazine in the 1930s. Click any picture for an enlargement:
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Bookmarks
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Biggles Bookmarks | Wallace and Scott |
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Wallace and Scott is a bookseller based on Workington, England. They published three series of bookmarks to promote their business, each with a picture of a Biggles first edition cover. All up there are 65 titles in the series. According to the backs of series 03, this is quite a common promotional device for this shop; it lists several other bookmark series they've produced, including luminaries such as Star Wars, Enid Blyton and Roger Ramjet. | ||