Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons Guide to First Editions

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Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons Guide to First Editions

Swallows and Amazons - First edition

Swallows and Amazons - First Illustrated Edition

Swallows and Amazons - First Edition Thus

Swallowdale - First Edition

Peter Duck - First Edition

Winter Holiday - First Edition

Coot Club - First Edition

Pigeon Post - First edition

We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea - First Edition

Secret Water - First Edition

The Big Six - First Edition

Missee Lee - First Edition

The Picts and the Martyrs or Not Welcome at All - First Edition

Great Northern? - First Edition

Coots in the North & Other Stories - First edition

The Swallows and the Amazons: A Transcription ... at Abbot Hall - First Edition

Arthur Ransome's First US Editions of the Swallows and Amazons Books

Arthur Ransome's Non Swallows and Amazons Books

ARSAUKBIB0001 Swallows and Amazons [Swallows and Amazons Series 01] First edition: Bibliographical Details: First edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: No later editions [than 1930] stated on publisher‘s copyright and imprint page. Dust jacket edition identified by: Illustrated by Stephen Spurrier. [Hammond A25a]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1930, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 022460631X [9780224606318]. 352 printed pages in publisher's original steel blue cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and on the upper board, in white dust jacket with Steven Spurrier illustration. Contains colour map endpapers by Stephen Spurrier. 2000 copies printed.

Contents: The first of the Swallows and Amazons series, in which the four Walker children (The Swallows, John, Susan, Titty and Roger) set up camp on an uninhabited island, but the Amazons (the two Blackett girls, Nancy and Peggy) have a prior claim on the island and declare war. Meanwhile the pirate Captain Flint blames the Swallows for damaging his boat ….
ARSAUKBIB0002 Swallows and Amazons [Swallows and Amazons Series 01] First Illustrated Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Illustrated Edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: No later editions stated on publisher‘s copyright and imprint page. Dust jacket edition identified by: Rear panel and rear flap blank and 9 line paragraph including Sylvia Lynd and Spectator reviews on the front flap. [Hammond A25c]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1931, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 022460631X [9780224606318]. 350 printed pages in publisher's original steel blue cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and on the upper board, in a white dust jacket with green infills between a montage of illustrations from the book. Contains colour map endpapers by Stephen Spurrier as per the first unillustrated edition and 28 black and white illustrations by Clifford Webb. 2000 copies printed.

Contents: The first of the Swallows and Amazons series, in which the four Walker children (The Swallows, John, Susan, Titty and Roger) set up camp on an uninhabited island, but the Amazons (the two Blackett girls, Nancy and Peggy) have a prior claim on the island and declare war. Meanwhile the pirate Captain Flint blames the Swallows for damaging his boat ….
ARSAUKBIB0003 Swallows and Amazons [Swallows and Amazons Series 01] First Edition Thus: Bibliographical Details: First Edition Thus, [First Printing] (Edition identified by: Publishers imprint information. [Hammond A25c]), The Reprint Society, London, 1958, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 022460631X [9780224606318]. 351 printed pages in publisher's original blue cloth with silver lettering and decoration, in pictorial dust jacket. Contains black and white illustrations by Arthur Ransome.

Contents: The first of the Swallows and Amazons series, in which the four Walker children (The Swallows, John, Susan, Titty and Roger) set up camp on an uninhabited island, but the Amazons (the two Blackett girls, Nancy and Peggy) have a prior claim on the island and declare war. Meanwhile the pirate Captain Flint blames the Swallows for damaging his boat ….
ARSAUKBIB0004 Swallowdale [Swallows and Amazons Series 02] First Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: No later editions or printings stated in the publisher's imprint information. Dust jacket edition identified by: SA review on the rear panel and plot description on the front flap and priced 7s 6d on the front flap. [Hammond A26]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1931, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224606328 [9780224606325]. 350 printed pages in blue cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and upper board, in dust jacket. Contains 28 full page and numerous in text black and white illustrations by Clifford Webb. 2000 copies in the first printing.

Contents: The Swallows return to the Lake District for a holiday with Amazons, but the Amazons are in the grip of the Great Aunt, and John sinks Swallow. They camp in Swallowdale and plan the ascent of Kanchenjunga while Swallow is repaired ….
ARSAUKBIB0005 Peter Duck [Swallows and Amazons Series 03] First Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: No later editions stated on publisher's copyright and imprint page. Dust jacket edition identified by: SA & SD reviewed on the rear panel and a plot description on the front flap. [Hammond A27a]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1932, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224021257 [9780224021258]. 432 printed pages in green cloth with gilt lettering, in in a white dust jacket with solid blue sections between the usual montage of illustrations from the book in black. Contains black and white illustrations by Arthur Ransome frontispiece and 20 full page black and white illustrations by Arthur Ransome. Colour map endpapers. 2000 copies printed.

Contents: The Swallows and Amazons go on a pirate adventure with Captain Flint and Peter Duck. Soon their boat is on its way to a Caribbean treasure hunt and they find themselves up against shark, storm, earthquake - and the vilest pirate who ever eavesdropped at a porthole.
ARSAUKBIB0006 Winter Holiday [Swallows and Amazons Series 04] First Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: No later editions stated on publisher‘s copyright and imprint page. Dust jacket edition identified by: Plot description on the front flap, books on rear flap listed to PD, priced 7s 6d and no impression number printed. [Hammond A28]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1933, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224606344 [9780224606349]. 360 printed pages in publisher's original green cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and blind-stamped lettering on the upper board, in white dust jacket with part speckled orange sections between the usual montage of illustrations from the book in black. Contains black and white frontispiece, 26 black and white illustrations and colour map endpapers by Arthur Ransome. 5000 copies in the first printing.

Contents: The Swallows and Amazons are joined by Dick and Dorothea (the D.s), newcomers to the Lakes, for a polar expedition, full of mountain rescues, blizzards, igloos, ice sailing and heroic work amidst the frozen wastes.
ARSAUKBIB0007 Coot Club [Swallows and Amazons Series 05] First Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Edition, [First Printing] (Edition identified by: No later editions stated on publisher‘s copyright and imprint page. [Hammond A29a]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1934, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224606352 [9780224606356]. 352 printed pages in green cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and blind-stamped lettering on the upper board, issued in white dust jacket with part speckled red sections between the usual montage of illustrations from the book in black [not present]. Contains black and white frontispiece, black and white illustrations and colour map endpapers by Arthur Ransome. Erratum slip inserted betwen printed pages 14 and 15 "Page 19. line 22, Stalham sholud read Sahouse". 4000 copies printed (less than the preceding book Winter Holiday of which 5000 were printed).

Contents: The first of the Swallows and Amazons series without any Swallows or any Amazons. The D.s (from Winter Holiday) learn how to sail with Tom Dudgeon who has cast off a motor cruiser from its moorings to protect a coot's nest. Now the cruiser is searching high and low for him in the Norfolk Broads.
ARSAUKBIB0008 Pigeon Post [Swallows and Amazons Series 06] First edition: Bibliographical Details: First edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: No later editions stated on publisher‘s copyright and imprint page. Dust jacket edition identified by: Coot Club as the latest book on the rear panel and a plot description and 7s. 6d. on the front flap. [Hammond A30a]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1936, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224606360 [9780224606363]. 384 printed pages in green cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and upper board, in white dust jacket with part speckled yellow sections between the usual montage of illustrations from the book in black. Contains black and white frontispiece, 22 black and white illustrations and in-text drawings and colour map endpapers by Arthur Ransome. 5000 copies printed.

Contents: The Swallows and Amazons and Ds camp at High Topps while they look for gold in the Coniston hills, desperate to beat a mysterious rival prospector, Squashy Hat ….
ARSAUKBIB0009 We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea [Swallows and Amazons Series 07] First Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: No later editions stated on publisher's copyright and imprint page. Dust jacket edition identified by: Pigeon Post is the last review on rear panel, priced 7/6 on the front flap and plot description on the front flap. [Hammond A31]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1937, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224606379 [9780224606370]. 351 printed pages in publisher's original green cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and blind-stamped lettering on the upper board, in a white dust jacket with part speckled light blue sections between the usual montage of illustrations from the book in black. Contains black and white frontispiece, 33 black and white illustrations and colour map endpapers by Arthur Ransome. Colour map endpapers. 6000 copies printed in the first printing.

Contents: John, Susan, Titty and Roger (and Sinbad the Kitten) find themselves alone, fighting a night gale in the treacherous waters of the North Sea on the tiny yacht the Goblin.
ARSAUKBIB0010 Secret Water [Swallows and Amazons Series 08] First Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: No later editions stated on publisher‘s copyright and imprint page. Dust jacket edition identified by: WD last review on rear panel, plot description on the front flap and priced 7/6 on the front flap. [Hammond A32a]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1939, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224606387 [9780224606387]. 384 printed pages in green cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and blind-stamped lettering on the upper board, in white dust jacket with part speckled red sections between the usual montage of illustrations from the book in black. Contains black and white frontispiece, 40 black and white illustrations and colour map endpapers by Arthur Ransome. Colour map endpapers. 10,000 copies printed.

Contents: The Swallows are tasked with mapping the small islands round Pin Mill, but will there be time to complete the map, wage war against the Eels and sacrifice Bridgit?.
ARSAUKBIB0011 The Big Six [Swallows and Amazons Series 09] First Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: No later editions stated on publisher's copyright and imprint page. Dust jacket edition identified by: Secret Water is the last review on rear panel and plot description on the front flap. [Hammond A33.1]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1940, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224606395 [9780224606394]. 400 printed pages in publisher's original green cloth with gilt lettering, publisher's logo on the spine and blind-stamped lettering on the upper board, in a white dust jacket with part speckled red sections between the usual montage of illustrations from the book. Contains black and white frontispiece, 22 black and white illustrations and colour map endpapers by Arthur Ransome. Colour map endpapers. 12000 copies printed.

Contents: The Coot Club becomes Scotland Yard to track down the person who is casting off boats and trying to lay the blame on the Coot Club.
ARSAUKBIB0012 Missee Lee [Swallows and Amazons Series 10] First Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: No later editions stated on publisher's copyright and imprint page. Dust jacket edition identified by: Missee Lee last review on rear panel (the only UK SA Series first edition that lists itself) and plot description on the front flap. [Hammond A34a]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1941, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224606409 [9780224606400]. 336 printed pages in green cloth with gilt lettering, publisher's logo on the spine and blind-stamped lettering on the upper board, in a white dust jacket with part speckled orange sections between the usual montage of illustrations from the book in black. Contains black and white frontispiece, 25 black and white illustrations and colour map endpapers by Arthur Ransome. 20,500 copies printed.

Contents: The Swallows and Amazons are shipwrecked and captured by Chinese pirates, who want to either keep them or kill them! Luckily Roger remembers some of his Latin ….
ARSAUKBIB0013 The Picts and the Martyrs or Not Welcome at All [Swallows and Amazons Series 11] First Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: Publisher‘s copyright and imprint page. Dust jacket edition identified by: Priced 8s. 6d. with plot description on the front flap and ML the last book on the rear. [Hammond A34.1]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1943, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224606417 [9780224606417]. 304 printed pages in green cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and blind-stamped lettering on the upper board, in a white dust jacket with part speckled purple sections between the usual montage of illustrations from the book in black. Contains black and white frontispiece, 19 black and white illustrations by Arthur Ransome and colour map endpapers by Arthur Ransome. Colour map endpapers. 22,750 copies printed in the first printing.

Contents: The terrible Great Aunt invites herself to stay with Nancy and Peggy, just as the D.s arrive for the Summer holiday. The D.s attempt to avoid discovery by the Great Aunt, while Peggy and Nancy pretend to be the perfect nieces. The last of the books based in the lakes.
ARSAUKBIB0014 Great Northern? [Swallows and Amazons Series 12] First Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: Publisher‘s copyright and imprint page. Dust jacket edition identified by: Priced 9s, with plot description on the front flap and PM the last book on the back. [Hammond A36a]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1947, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224606425 [9780224606424]. 352 printed pages in green cloth with gilt lettering on the spine and blind-stamped lettering on the upper board, in white dust jacket with part speckled green sections between the usual montage of illustrations from the book in black. Contains full page black and white illustrations, 22 black and white in-text drawings and colour map endpapers by Arthur Ransome.

Contents: Dick's bird watching discovery turns the cruise of the Sea Bear into a desperate chase to prevent a bird collector finding and removed eggs from the nest of the Great Northern. The last in the series, based around the Outer Hebrides.
ARSAUKBIB0015 Coots in the North & Other Stories [Swallows and Amazons Series 13] First edition: Bibliographical Details: First edition, [First Printing] (Book edition identified by: No later editions or printings stated in the publisher's imprint information. Dust jacket edition identified by: Priced £6.95. [Hammond A 41]), Jonathan Cape Limited, London, 1988, Hardcover, Octavo (20-25 cm high), ISBN: 0224026054 [9780224026055]. 144 printed pages in brown cloth with gilt lettering, in light blue dust jacket printed in black and brown. Contains black and white illustrations by Arthur Ransome.

Contents: The first publication of an unfinished Swallows and Amazons story called "Coots in the North" (103 to 144 printed pages), together with other unpublished and uncollected stories: The River Comes First; The Cloudburst; The Shepherd's Pipe; Ankou; Two Shorts and a Long and The Unofficial Side. The Coots manuscript was discovered by Brogan in Ransome's desk at Abbot Hall Museum. He gave it the title and introduced and edited the book.
ARSAUKBIB0016 The Swallows and the Amazons: A Transcription of an Early Draft of Swallows and Amazons Held at Abbot Hall [Swallows and Amazons Series 01] First Edition: Bibliographical Details: First Edition (Edition identified by: Publisher's stated imprint information. [Hammond A46]), Amazon Publications, Kendal, 1997, Paperback, Octavo (20-25 cm high). [viii], 279 printed pages in card covers with design based on the Steven Spurrier dust jacket design of the 1930 edition. Contains black and white illustrations by Steven Spurrier. 500 paperbacks and 50 hardbacks printed.

Contents: A transcription of an early draft of Swallows and Amazons held at Abbot Hall, with the original illustrations by Steven Spurrier. Also contains a list of Ransome's previously written works, presumably produced for the prelims, but not appearing in cape edition, notes on characters age and preliminary workings on chapter titles.