BIGGLES MAKES ENDS MEET
Book First Published on 7th February 1957 - 192 pages
I believe this Biggles book was never serialised elsewhere. If anybody knows differently then please E-MAIL ME
First edition dust jacket showing the original price of 8
shillings and 6 pence
Air Commodore Raymond sends
Biggles and Co. to investigate an apparent case of piracy in the Indian Ocean -
in the region of the Nicobar Islands. Biggles has his doubts as to accuracy of
the victim's story, (a Mr. Tidore), and he soon discovers that the piracy was
really a dispute between smugglers. The rival smugglers murder Mr. Tidore and
investigations trace their base, which is an island that was formerly occupied
by the Japanese. The man behind the rival smugglers is known as "The
Colonel". He is an ex-American officer, and he has access to the supplies
of petrol that the Japanese abandoned on the island base at the end of the
Second World War. A reconnaissance mission to the island leaves Biggles, Bertie
and Ginger stranded after a storm hits unexpectedly. They have to use their
wits to defeat the Colonel and his gang and prevent them from escaping from the
island before help can arrive. The jacket dust cover shows gang members chasing
after Ginger as he attempts to fly off in one of their planes.
Click here to see the story illustrations from this book
Biggles Makes Ends Meet
Subtitle - Biggles and his Air Police investigate an exciting
case of piracy off the Nicobar Islands of the Indian Ocean - and uncover a much
greater racket.
Publication Details - published by Hodder and Stoughton
Frontispiece
Click on the above to see it in more detail
BONUS! – HERE IS SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING!
(MY THANKS GO TO W.E. JOHNS COLLECTOR STEVE RUDGE FOR SENDING ME THESE PHOTOS OF THE
ORIGINAL ARTWORK IN HIS COLLECTION)
When STEAD painted the last illustration for the book, someone
must have been dissatisfied with it and so STEAD then repainted a sheet of
paper OVER it. When the sheet was
removed
You could see the ORIGINAL painting …………… and here it is! The villain is changed from some ruffian to a
more gentlemanly villain ………
Original Book Illustration
Unused Illustration as originally painted
The “Children’s Book Club” edition reprint – click on the above
picture to find out more details