BIGGLES FAKES SOME
HOMEWORK
BEWARE THE FAKES VERSION
OF NORMAN WRIGHT’S PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
There are in fact FOUR
versions of BIGGLES DOES SOME HOMEWORK …….
Two are fully authorised (they are the
two on the right hand side) – published by Norman
Wright and the other two are unauthorised publications.
One of these unauthorised publications is
limited to 30 books and does not try to pass itself off as the genuine
authorised book. It is in fact an extremely
well-produced version of the story and I wouldn’t label it a “fake” at all –
just an unauthorised alternative version – and probably one of the rarest
Biggles books.
The other unauthorised
publication is an attempt to copy the much sought after PAPERBACK first edition
of the book.
This is a complete and utter criminal
fraud that is intended to deceive a genuine buyer! BEWARE!
The fake first edition paperback is an
attempt to cash in on the high prices that the real first edition is
worth. The number of these particular
fakes are unknown, but if somebody has gone to the trouble of having a print
run done it is likely to be large. They
have also had the effect of reducing the value of the real limited edition
first edition paperback.
You need to know the differences between
the REAL GENUINE first edition and the fake paperback. That is explained here – and I am able to do
that as I accidently bought a fake in July 2016, believing it to be genuine and
now have an example in my collection so I can show photos in comparison.
The most important thing to note is the
back of the book – the FAKE is on the LEFT.
The real first edition has a black border on the back! Check yours!
I bought my copy off an innocent person
who genuinely believed they had an original first edition – until I pointed out
the differences …….. they refunded my money
and we came to an agreement as to the purchasing of the fake as a curiosity to
enable me to make this web page as a warning to genuine collectors.
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There are other differences as well. Firstly the SIZE of
the book. The genuine first edition is
21 cms by 15 cms. The fake is noticeably smaller, 20 cm by 13.5
cm. This means that the cover picture is
cut off, so there are more fingers on Air Commodore Raymond on the genuine
first edition and more trees on the left.
There is also a clear difference inside
on the title page ….
The
fake is on the left – note the thinner title font – and shoddy numbering! |
Above
is the true first edition – number 123 of 300, signed by Andrew Skilleter |
Finally, here are details of the “Helping
HaND” edition of BIGGLES DOES SOME HOMEWORK.
This is a limited edition of 30 copies and was the first hardback
edition of the book. Although unauthorised,
it doesn’t try to pass itself off as the original. It appears to have been produced in a style
to match the Brockhampton Press originals and so sits nicely with them on the
bookshelf. Probably one of the rarest
Biggles books if there are only 30.
There is also a companion issue to this
book called BIGGLES ON THE WESTERN FRONT, also limited to only 30 copies, which
reprints the eight WW1 stories from BIGGLES – AIR ACE (but not the two Air
Police stories) and has six ADDITIONAL stories as follows:-
“Hard Case” Carrington –
from the October 1939 issue of “Air
Stories”
Reunion – from the November
1941 issue of “Britannia
and Eve”
So this is War – from the
February 1940 issue of “Air
Stories”
Spitfire Parade – from the
March 1940 issue of “Air
Stories”
Sausage and Mash – from the
March 1940 issue of “Air
Stories”
and
Biggles on the Trail – from
the Modern Boy’s Annual 1941
Here are some pictures showing the covers,
spines and printing details ………
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This is number 17 out of 30 |
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This is number 6 out of 30 |
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The rear cover of Homework
is to the left and Western Front to the right, the latter has 99 Biggles books
including itself listed on the back
A study of the titles shows
they have accidently missed off “Biggles Fails to Return”! (and included
Biggles of the Royal Flying Corps)
RETURN TO
BIGGLES DOES SOME HOMEWORK