BIGGLES - AIR ACE
Book First Published by NORMAN WRIGHT as a limited
edition in PAPERBACK of only 300 numbered copies in May 1999 - 162 pages
Book was then Re-Published by NORMAN WRIGHT as a limited
edition in HARDBACK of only 300 numbered copies in April 2008 - 155 pages
(For both the paperback and the hardback
there appear to be around 25 additional complimentary and review copies, which
are unnumbered and just marked “comp”)
The cover of
the original paperback first edition.
These TEN
stories were first published in various annuals and periodicals. I have noted below the titles and the
original publication details.
This will be the last ever Biggles first
edition because all Biggles stories have now published in book form.
The stories are as follows:-
If you click on the images you can enlarge
them.
Biggles decides to drop some sausages on the Germans as a gesture
of goodwill for Christmas.
This story was originally only published in issue number 358 of
"The Modern Boy" dated 15th December 1934
When Wilkinson steals Biggles' Christmas Tree, Biggles takes
revenge at their Christmas party.
This story was originally only published in issue number 359 of
"The Modern Boy" dated 22nd December 1934
Algy goes missing whilst on leave and Biggles goes to Paris to
find out that he has been kidnapped.
This story was originally only published in issue number 365 of
"The Modern Boy" dated 2nd February 1935
When Biggles and Algy act as gunners for Fernwell,
they get shot down and have to escape.
This story was originally only published in issue number 395 of
"The Modern Boy" dated 31st August 1935
Wilkinson bets Biggles that his new pilot will shoot down more
enemy planes than Biggles' new pilot.
This story was originally first published in THE NEW BOOK
OF THE AIR in 1935 and then re-published in issue number 47 of
"Modern Boy" (new series) dated 7th January 1939
However, around 1950 W. E. Johns later rewrote it as a Second
World War story and in that form it was published in Every Boy’s Annual in 1950 as
'The Hare and the
Tortoise'. This version of the story was
later collected in BIGGLES
TAKES THE CASE
in 1952 as 'The Hare and the Tortoise'
After killing a popular German Officer Biggles is a marked man and
every German is out to kill him.
This story was originally only published in "The
Modern Boy's Book of Adventure Stories" in 1936
Biggles takes a secret agent on a mission. When the agent loses
his nerve Biggles has to do his job.
This story was originally only published in "The
Modern Boy's Annual" in 1937
When Biggles decides to help a British Major
he finds himself falling for an elaborate German trap.
This story was originally only published in "The
Modern Boy's Annual" in 1938
THE CASE OF THE SOMERSET FARMER
A farmer's complaint leads to Biggles stopping an illegal
immigration racket.
This story was originally only published in "The
Daily Mail's Boy's Annual" in 1963
Five aviation fuel cans assist Biggles in calculating the
whereabouts of a missing plane.
This story was originally only published in "The Boy's Own
Paper" in December 1955
Click here to see the story illustrations from this book
Biggles - Air Ace
Subtitle - The Uncollected Stories
Publication Details - published privately by Norman Wright in a
limited edition of only 300 paperback books followed nine years later by 300
hardback books
Frontispiece
Click on the above to see it in more detail
The original cover artwork – which used to be in my own personal
collection