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

 

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