The Swallows and the Amazons: A Transcription … at Abbot Hall by Arthur Ransome and Steven Spurrier, First Edition

Arthur [Mitchell] Ransome (1884 to 1967)—English author and journalist, born in Leeds and best known for writing the Swallows and Amazons series of children's books (Swallows and Amazons, Swallowdale, Peter Duck, Winter Holiday, Coot Club, Pigeon Post, We Didn't Mean To Go To Sea, Secret Water, The Big Six, Missee Lee, The Picts And The Martyrs: or Not Welcome At All and Great Northern?). He was also the author of forty or so other titles including other children's books, fishing books, sailing books and books on politics and Stephen (Sic) Spurrier (1878 to 1961)—British artist and painter, who exhibited at the Royal Academy, developed dazzle camouflage for ships for the Admiralty and produced illustrations for Swallows and Amazons, which were not used except for the endpapers and dust jacket. These illustrations were published later in 'The Swallows and The Amazons' by produced by Amazon Publications

Amazon Publications—(Founded in 1991) Amazon Publications is a publishing co-operative which publishes both original books and reprints of books associated with Ransome. They have an agreement with the Literary Executors of Ransome's estate, that allows them to publish material that would normally be unavailable, although on the condition that they only sell publications to Arthur Ransome Society members. The first publication was in 1991 and there is usually one substantial book produced each year, with a few special extras. The standard on content and production are high and print runs typically small, with most copies being sold by subscription prior to publication. Note on identifying first editions: To date, Amazon Publications has only ever produced one edition and printing of each title.

Swallows and Amazons—A series of 12 (Swallows and Amazons, Swallowdale, Peter Duck, Winter Holiday, Coot Club, Pigeon Post, We Didn't Mean To Go To Sea, Secret Water, The Big Six, Missee Lee, The Picts And The Martyrs: or Not Welcome At All and Great Northern?) children's books by English author Arthur Ransome, named after the title of the first book in the series. They involve the outdoor adventures of children, most notably John, Susan, Titty, and Roger Walker, Nancy and Peggy Blackett and Dick and Dorothea Callum. They portray an idyllic, yet also realistic, depiction of childhood adventure set in the 1930s. The series contains 12 books. The first book was originally published in 1930 and the last book was originally published in 1947. Titles in the series are: 1—'Swallows and Amazons', 2—'Swallowdale', 3—'Peter Duck', 4—'Winter Holiday', 5—'Coot Club', 6—'Pigeon Post', 7—'We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea', 8—'Secret Water', 9—'The Big Six', 10—'Missee Lee', 11—'The Picts and the Martyrs: Or Not Welcome at All', 12—'Great Northern?' and 13—'Coots in the North (Unfinished)'

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