THE W. E. JOHNS ARMADA PAPERBACKS

PAGE FOUR OF FIVE

 

THIRTEEN W.E. JOHNS BIGGLES BOOKS WERE PUBLISHED BY “ARMADA” WITH THE DISTINCTIVE WHITE COVERS AND A RED LOGO WITH “BIGGLES” IN WHITE TEXT AS SHOWN ABOVE.

 

THESE WERE ALL REPRINTS OF PREVIOUSLY PRINTED ARMADA TITLES – AND WERE PUBLISHED IN 1979, 1980 AND 1981.  THESE BOOKS WERE REPRINTED DURING THE EARLY TO MID 1980s

 

 

 

 

REF C1440 – BIGGLES LEARNS TO FLY – FRONT

Originally published in 1935 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1963.  This version of the paperback was published in 1979.   (This book still erroneously says that this was first published in 1935 by Brockhampton Press but it was, in fact, published by the Amalgamated Press in 1935 and then reissued by Brockhampton Press in an amended version in 1955).

The text was reprinted using the same printing plates although the last page, 160, is unnumbered in this reprint.  160 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

 

REF C1440 – BIGGLES LEARNS TO FLY – REAR

This book contained 9 original illustrations done for this book by an uncredited artist.  They are on pages 4, 14, 23, 48, 83, 99, 119, 126 and 140 and are mainly small drawings at the end of chapters, with the noticeable exception of the frontispiece at page 4.

 

 

REF C1441 – BIGGLES HUNTS BIG GAME – FRONT

Originally published in 1948 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1963.  This version of the paperback was published in 1979 and then reprinted in 1983.

The text was reprinted using the same printing plates although the last page, 159, is unnumbered in this reprint.  159 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

 

 

 

REF C1441 – BIGGLES HUNTS BIG GAME – REAR

This book contained no original illustrations.

 

REF C1443 – BIGGLES IN THE BALTIC – FRONT

Originally published in 1940 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1963.  This version of the paperback was published in 1979.  The text was reprinted using the same printing plates.  158 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

 

REF C1443 – BIGGLES IN THE BALTIC – REAR

This book contained no original illustrations.

 

REF C1525 – BIGGLES CHARTER PILOT – FRONT

Originally published in 1943 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1962.  This version of the paperback was published in 1979 and then reprinted (at a higher price) in 1983.  The text was reprinted using the same printing plates.  158 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

 

REF C1525 – BIGGLES CHARTER PILOT – REAR

This book contained 4 original illustrations done for this book by an uncredited artist.  They are on pages 11, 41, 69 and 135.

These are remarkably similar to the four original illustrations by Mendoza from the first edition of this book.

You can see a comparison here

The hyphen between “Biggles” and “Charter” has now been re-inserted back on the spine.

 

 

REF C1749 – BIGGLES FOLLOWS ON – FRONT

Originally published in 1952 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1972.  This version of the paperback was published in 1980.  The text was reprinted using the same printing plates.  127 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

 

REF C1749 – BIGGLES FOLLOWS ON – REAR

This book contained no original illustrations.

 

REF C1750 – BIGGLES HITS THE TRAIL – FRONT

Originally published in 1935 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1962.  (This book still erroneously says that this was first published in 1941).  This version of the paperback was published in 1980.  The text was reprinted using the same printing plates.  160 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

 

REF C1750 – BIGGLES HITS THE TRAIL – REAR

This book contained 4 original illustrations done for this book by an uncredited artist.  They are on pages 11, 43, 107 and 147.

REF C1751 – BIGGLES IN THE ORIENT – FRONT

Originally published in 1945 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1963.  This version of the paperback was published in 1980.  The text was reprinted using the same printing plates.  160 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

 

REF C1751 – BIGGLES IN THE ORIENT – REAR

The original Armada paperback book contained no original illustrations but the 1965 and 1969 reprints contained one illustration – a frontispiece on page 4.  This book also has that frontispiece.  No artist is credited.

 

REF C1752 – BIGGLES FLIES NORTH – FRONT

Originally published in 1939 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1966.  This version of the paperback was published in 1980.  The text was reprinted using the same printing plates.  157 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

 

REF C1752 – BIGGLES FLIES NORTH – REAR

This book contained the SIX original illustrations from

the first edition by WILL NARRAWAY, however what was originally the third illustration was moved to be a frontispiece.

The illustrations are on pages 4, 38, 63, 103, 119 and 141.  Whereas in previous editions of the Armada paperback of “Biggles Flies North”, the artist was credited, here WILL NARRAWAY is NOT credited.

 

 

REF C1773 – BIGGLES FLIES SOUTH – FRONT

Originally published in 1938 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1966 (although the details in the book erroneously say 1969, which was the year Armada reprinted it).  This version of the paperback was published in 1980.

The text was reprinted using the same printing plates.  158 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

 

REF C1773 – BIGGLES FLIES SOUTH – REAR

This book contained FIVE out of SIX of the original illustrations from

the first edition by JACK NICOLLE – plus the map.  They are on pages 4, 38 (the map), 69, 87, 126 and 147.  You can see all the first edition illustrations by clicking on the rear cover.  The first illustration after the map is the missing one.  The third illustration of Ginger being attacked by a crocodile was moved to be a frontispiece.

 

 

REF C1793 – BIGGLES IN THE ANTARCTIC – FRONT

Originally published in 1949 under the title “BIGGLES BREAKS THE SILENCE” – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada as BIGGLES IN THE ANTARTIC in 1970.  This version of the paperback was published in 1980.  The text was reprinted using the same printing plates.  158 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

REF C1793 – BIGGLES IN THE ANTARCTIC – REAR

This book contained no original illustrations.

 

The first Armada edition of this book featured a note on page one saying the story is based on fact, although the rediscovery of the treasure is fictitious.  This note is NOT reprinted in this edition of the book.

 

 

REF C1796 – BIGGLES DEFIES THE SWASTIKA – FRONT

Originally published in 1941 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1962.  This version of the paperback was published in 1980.  The text was reprinted using the same printing plates.  159 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

REF C1796 – BIGGLES DEFIES THE SWASTIKA – BACK

This book contained 4 original illustrations done for this book by an uncredited artist.  They are on pages 9, 62, 79 and 152.

 

 

REF C1868 – BIGGLES IN AUSTRALIA – FRONT

Originally published in 1955 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1970.  This version of the paperback was published in 1981.  The text was reprinted using the same printing plates.  126 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

REF C1868 – BIGGLES IN AUSTRALIA – REAR

This book contained no original illustrations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THE BIGGLES BOOKS BY

CAPTAIN W. E. JOHNS

PUBLISHED BY

KNIGHT PAPERBACKS

REF C1869 – BIGGLES IN THE JUNGLE – FRONT

Originally published in 1942 – This paperback was ORIGINALLY published by Armada in 1966.  This version of the paperback was published in 1981.  The text was reprinted using the same printing plates.  157 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

 

 

REF C1869 – BIGGLES IN THE JUNGLE – REAR

This book contained the FOUR original illustrations from the first edition by TERENCE CUNEO.  They are on pages 18, 61, 100 and 152.

 

 

 

 

 

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