THE W. E. JOHNS knight PAPERBACKS

PAGE TWO OF FIVE

 

27 DIFFERENT BIGGLES TITLES WERE PUBLISHED BY “KNIGHT” BOOKS PLUS 31 REPRINTS WITH DIFFERENT COVERS

 

PAGE ONE – Shows the very first Knight Biggles paperbacks.  These were 6 “Green Knight” books with the white spine and surrounding white border.

 

PAGE TWO – Shows 15 different book titles, but two of those had slightly different covers, so 17 different covers are shown.  These 15 titles included reprints of the first 6 original “Green Knight” paperbacks and so only added a further 9 titles to the range of Knight paperbacks. This page also shows the back of an 18th book but that is just to show an example of the changes that occurred to the rear covers of the Knight books when the books were reprinted.  For example “Green Knight” was changed to “Knight” by the removal of the word “Green”.  Of the 15 titles,

3 of these books were published in 1969, 8 were published in 1970, 3 were published in 1971 and 1 was published in 1972.

 

PAGE THREE – Shows 12 different Knight books. These 12 books have a distinctive “stencilled” title font.  4 of them were published in 1974 and 8 of them were published in 1975.

6 of them were reprints of earlier Knight paperbacks and 6 of them were titles new in paperback, bringing the total number of different Knight Biggles books up to 21.

 

PAGE FOUR – Shows the 12 Knight paperbacks with a cartoon like Biggles head logo on a coloured title banner.  10 of these were reprints but 2 are first publications new to paperback, bringing the total number of different Knight Biggles books up to 23.

 

PAGE FIVE – Shows the final 11 Knight Biggles books which had the distinctive “posed” photographic covers.  7 of these are reprints but the other 4 are first publications in paperback bringing the total number of different Knight Biggles books up to 27.  Some of these posed photographic covers are, it has to be said, frankly ridiculous!

 

 

IF YOU CLICK ON THE FRONT COVER OF ANY BOOK ILLUSTRATED BELOW, YOU GO TO THE STORY SUMMARY AND DETAILS OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE FIRST EDITION.

IF YOU CLICK ON THE REAR COVER OF ANY BOOK, YOU CAN SEE THE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE FIRST EDITION OF THE BOOK (IF IT HAD ANY).

 

Note how the photo of W. E. Johns (which is initially the “right” way around looking at the book spines) is printed the wrong way around for the last 4 books.

 

 

BIGGLES IN THE BLUE – FRONT

Originally published in 1953 –

This paperback was published in 1969.  It is interesting to compare the cover with the reprint the following year (see right).  The image has moved to the left!

157 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as 3/6.

 

BIGGLES IN THE BLUE – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

However, if you click on the back cover you can see the illustrations from the original hardback first edition.

BIGGLES IN THE BLUE – FRONT

Originally published in 1953 –

This paperback was published in 1970.  It is interesting to compare the cover with the original the previous year (see left).  The image has moved to the left!

157 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as (17½p) 3/6.

 

BIGGLES IN THE BLUE – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

However, if you click on the back cover you can see the illustrations from the original hardback first edition.

BIGGLES AND THE DARK INTRUDER – FRONT

Originally published in paperback in 1967 –

This reprint paperback was published in 1969.  It is interesting to compare the cover with the reprint the following year (see right).  Note the title was on two lines but this changes to three lines.  The picture is a “zoomed in” version of the original cover of the 1967 paperback.

See a comparison here

190 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as (17½p) 3/6.

 

BIGGLES AND THE DARK INTRUDER – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

 

The most remarkable thing about this book is that the title DID NOT appear on the spine!

It just says “Captain W. E. Johns”!

You can see the spines of these books below and the missing title is obvious.

BIGGLES AND THE DARK INTRUDER – FRONT

Originally published in paperback in 1967 –

This reprint paperback was published in 1970.  It is interesting to compare the cover with the original the previous year (see left).  Note the title was on two lines but this changes to three lines in 1970.  The “Knight” logo on the front was originally on the right but now it is on the left.  190 pages.  No cover artist is credited.  The price still remains the same as the original, that being (17½p) 3/6.

BIGGLES AND THE DARK INTRUDER – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

 

This reprint DID have the title printed on the spine after the name “Captain W. E. Johns”.

BIGGLES BURIES A HATCHET – FRONT

Originally published in 1958 –

This paperback was published in 1969.

192 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as 3/6.

 

BIGGLES BURIES A HATCHET – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

However, if you click on the back cover you can see the illustrations from the original hardback first edition.

 

BIGGLES BURIES A HATCHET – ALTERNATIVE REAR

This paperback reprint was published in 1973.

Again it is 192 pages and the book has exactly the same front cover illustration as the original 1969 version to the left so there is no need to repeat it.  Here, the price is now 25p.  This image is shown to show a common change to the rear of these Knight books when they were reprinted.  If you compare the rear cover with the “same” rear cover to the left you will notice at the bottom left cover, the word “Green” has been removed from the logo.  The logo now just says that it is a “Knight” book.  The text about “This is a Green Knight book” is also removed and the “SBN” becomes an “ISBN” (International Standard Book Number).

 

BIGGLES FLIES WEST – FRONT

Originally published in 1937 –

This was first published in paperback in 1967.  This reprint paperback was published in 1970.

The picture is a “zoomed in” version of the original cover of the 1967 paperback.

See a comparison here

192 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as (3/6) 17½p

 

 

BIGGLES FLIES WEST – REAR

This book had a map on page 49.

There were no other illustrations.

However, if you click on the back cover you can see the illustrations from the original hardback first edition.

BIGGLES’ CHINESE PUZZLE – FRONT

Originally published in 1955 –

This was first published in paperback in 1967.  This reprint paperback was published in 1970.

The picture is a “zoomed in” version of the original cover of the 1967 paperback.

See a comparison here

191 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as (17½p) 3/6

 

 

BIGGLES’ CHINESE PUZZLE – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

However, if you click on the back cover you can see the illustrations from the original hardback first edition.  The rear cover shown here is from a 1973 reprint where the price has now risen to 25p.  Note how all reference to “Green Knight” has been removed.

 

BIGGLES OF THE INTERPOL – FRONT

Originally published in 1957 –

This was first published in paperback in 1968.  This reprint paperback was published in 1970.

 (This book still erroneously says it was first published in 1965).   The picture is a “zoomed in” and darker version of the original cover of the 1968 paperback and this makes it clearer.

See a comparison here

188 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as (3/6) 17½p

 

BIGGLES OF THE INTERPOL – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

However, if you click on the back cover you can see the illustrations from the original hardback first edition.

 

 

BIGGLES INVESTIGATES – FRONT

Originally published in 1964 –

This paperback was published in 1970.

184 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as (17½p) 3/6

 

 

 

BIGGLES INVESTIGATES – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

However, if you click on the back cover you can see the colour frontispiece from the original hardback first edition.

 

 

BIGGLES AND THE PLOT THAT FAILED – FRONT

Originally published in 1965 –

This paperback was published in 1970.

157 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as (17½p) 3/6

 

 

BIGGLES AND THE PLOT THAT FAILED – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

BIGGLES AND THE BLUE MOON – FRONT

Originally published in 1965 –

This was first published in paperback in 1968.  This reprint paperback was published in 1970.

The picture is a “zoomed in” version of the original cover of the 1967 paperback.

See a comparison here

190 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as (17½p) 3/6

 

BIGGLES AND THE BLUE MOON – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

(As the colour of the text makes it difficult to read this rear cover, you can click on it in order to enlarge it).

BIGGLES IN THE TERAI – FRONT

Originally published in 1966 –

This was first published in paperback in 1968.  This reprint paperback was published in 1970.

The picture is a “zoomed in” version of the original cover of the 1967 paperback.

See a comparison here

190 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as (3/6) 17½p

 

BIGGLES IN THE TERAI – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

BIGGLES SORTS IT OUT – FRONT

Originally published in 1966 –

This paperback was published in 1970.

158 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as (17½p) 3/6

 

 

BIGGLES SORTS IT OUT – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

 

BIGGLES AND THE GUN RUNNERS – FRONT

Originally published in 1966 –

This paperback was published in 1971.

158 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as (3/6) 17½p

 

BIGGLES AND THE GUN RUNNERS – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

For some reason the photo of Captain

W. E. Johns on the back cover has been printed the wrong way around (!)  You can tell from the spines of the books in the original picture which way around is correct.

BIGGLES IN THE UNDERWORLD – FRONT

Originally published in 1968 –

This paperback was published in 1971.

156 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as 17½p.

The cover illustration is the same as the first edition hardback of this book.

BIGGLES IN THE UNDERWORLD – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

For some reason the photo of Captain

W. E. Johns on the back cover has been printed the wrong way around (!)  You can tell from the spines of the books in the original picture which way around is correct.

 

 

BIGGLES AND THE LITTLE GREEN GOD – FRONT

Originally published in 1969 –

This paperback was published in 1971.

156 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as 20p.

The cover illustration is the same as the first edition hardback of this book.

 

 

BIGGLES AND THE LITTLE GREEN GOD – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

For some reason the photo of Captain

W. E. Johns on the back cover has been printed the wrong way around (!)  You can tell from the spines of the books in the original picture which way around is correct.

BIGGLES AND THE NOBLE LORD – FRONT

Originally published in 1969 –

This paperback was published in 1972.

158 pages.  No cover artist is credited.

The original price showed as 20p.

The cover illustration is the same as the first edition hardback of this book.

BIGGLES AND THE NOBLE LORD – REAR

This book contained no illustrations.

For some reason the photo of Captain

W. E. Johns on the back cover has been printed the wrong way around (!)  You can tell from the spines of the books in the original picture which way around is correct.

 

 

 

 

 

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PAGE THREE