BIGGLES' CHINESE PUZZLE
Book First Published on 9th May 1955 - 188 pages
These stories were first published in various annuals and
periodicals. I have noted below the
titles the original publication details where known.
First edition dust jacket showing original price of 7 shillings
and 6 pence – this was NOT the very first dust jacket to have a number on the
spine
(Even though it has the lower number of 43 on the spine, it was in
fact Biggles in Australia, numbered 44, that was the first Biggles book to be numbered –
Australia was published on 31st March 1955 whereas
Chinese Puzzle was published on 9th May 1955. They must have been allocated numbers in
advance.)
This contains eight short stories. These are as follows:-
BIGGLES' CHINESE PUZZLE (Pages 7 to 57)
Biggles and Co. rescue Marcel Brissac from Saigon where he has
discovered a smuggling racket.
This was
originally published in the Boy’s Own Paper Volume 77, issue 1, dated October 1954
THE CASE OF THE MODERN PIRATE (Pages 58 to 87)
Our heroes are sent to New Guinea to find a ship and its cargo of
stolen gold (dust cover of book).
I have
not yet been able to establish if this story were ever published
elsewhere. I suspect it was published in
“Chucklers Weekly” (an Australian comic) in 1954.
THE ADVENTURE OF THE LUMINOUS CLAY (Pages 88 to 100)
An important mineral substance must be found on a volcanic island
that may disappear at anytime.
This
story was originally published in the 'Eagle Annual No. 4' 1954 (by Hulton Press Ltd)
THE FLYING CRUSADERS (Pages
101 to 115)
A stolen painting has been hidden in a plane and now the thief is
trying to buy the plane to get it.
This story was originally published in its complete and unedited
form in the 'Eagle Annual
No. 3' 1953 (by
Hulton Press Ltd)
It later re-published in an edited version in the ‘BBC Children's Annual’ 1956 (by Burke, London in associated
with the BBC)
THE MYSTERY OF THE TORN PARACHUTE (Pages 116 to 134)
A torn parachute is the clue that leads Biggles to find a murderer
hiding out in remote Scotland.
This was
originally published in the Boy’s Own Paper Volume 76, issue 12, dated September 1954
THE CASE OF THE MISSING CONSTABLE (Pages 135 to 152)
A policeman has disappeared and Biggles discovers he has been
murdered and who did it.
I have
not yet been able to establish if this story were ever published
elsewhere. I suspect it was published in
“Chucklers Weekly” (an Australian comic) in 1954.
THE CASE OF THE SECRET INQUISITORS (Pages 153 to 167)
Biggles impersonates a scientist and is kidnapped by someone who
is selling scientific secrets.
This story was originally published in 'The Treasure Book of Comics’ 1952 (by Odhams Press Ltd)
OPERATION STARLIGHT (Pages 168 to 188)
Biggles and Co. smash a smuggling racket with the help of Marcel
Brissac at the French end.
I am informed that an edited version of
this story was published in “Chuckler’s Weekly” (an Australian Comic) in Volume
1, issue 23, dated 22nd October 1954,
but that date and issue number may not be
correct. I believe the first issue of
“Chuckler’s Weekly” was 30th April 1954, in which case, if weekly,
that date should be issue 26?
Click here to see the story illustrations from this book
Biggles' Chinese Puzzle
Subtitle - And other Biggles' adventures
Publication Details - published by Brockhampton Press
Frontispiece
Click on the above to see it in more detail