BLACK HUNTING WHIP

Collins 1950 First Edition

illustrated by Geoffrey Whittam The Thornton's mother attends a Sale and buys a Farm. Not just any farm, but Punchbowl Farm, a near derelict collection of buildings and land on the edge of The Devil's Punchbowl in Surrey. Exploring the old buildings amongst the settling in jobs, while their parents disappear under a hail of brick and plaster dust, the younger Thorntons, Dion and Lindsey, uncover some of the farm's past.

First edition: pale green boards, front board plain; gold blocking; 135x200mm; 256pp; no map; title page vignette and 16 line illustrations (5 full page).
Dustwrapper: full colour front illustration of boy unearthing box in front of farm; spine similar with boy digging with spade; rear lists two Novels for Boys and Girls by other authors and the rear flap advertises the Collins Magazine; cover price 8s 6d.

Reprinted: 1955 {Crown edition on SE list}
Red boards with black blocking; 5x7.5 inches; 256pp; title page vignette; all 16 original illustrations, no map; states This edition 1955 on title page verso.
Dustwrapper as first edition, but rear of jacket advertises 'The Wanderer', 'Punchbowl Midnight', Spirit of Punchbowl Farm' and 'Punchbowl Harvest' whereas the inside of the rear flap advertises 'No Entry', 'The Midnight Horse', Cargo of Horses' and 'Storm Ahead'. Cover price 5s net.
[This will be the Crown Edition listed by ME. In effect a straight reprint for a 'crown' or five shillings. The Crown Library label appears to have been dropped.]
[For information on this edition, thanks to Matthew Hyde]

Other Editions:

1950: serialised in Collins Magazine, with the book illustrations, some larger than in the book and with at least one variant; the serial was later collected into the Collins Magazine Annual Vol.4 (1951).

Scottie Books 1956: paperback; illustrations as original but new cover picture, full colour, signed 'Mortelmans'; 222pp; No. J34; cover price 'Two Shillings'.

Scottie paperback 1956

Armada paperback 1964

Armada 1964: original illustrations; 157pp; cover by Mary Gernat; reprinted 1967/8; Armada number C74; cover price 2/6.

Collins Pony Library 1974: Hardback edition on cheaper paper. An abridged edition of the story. Pictorial boards signed by Geoffrey Whittam.

The Pony Library cover

Goodchild edition 1984

Goodchild 1984: revised by author; dustwrapper by Gordon King. ISBN 086391-042-4 This edition still listed as available from Amazon.co.uk.

Girls Gone By Publishers 2011: New paperback edition. With reinstated full text and illustrations from the first edition, and with the additional material so characteristic of this publisher's products, this is yet another collector's item. Shelley Edwards has once more provided a new and fascinating Preface. This time she reflects on the story and compares it with her own memories of the time as well has her mother's account of the early days on the farm as recounted in The Unsought Farm. These insights really are marvellous - and once again illustrations from the family albums are included. The preface is followed by the original Farm Sale Brochure> from 1947. There is a an introduction to the author and her work by Joy Wotton as well as the publishing history by myself. These are illustrated throughout by photographs. In addition, Brian Parks has contributed The Real Devil's Punchbowl an illustrated article which first appeared last year in the new paperback edition of The Wild One. Clarissa Cridland (of Girls Gone By) has added a fascinating clipping from the local Thursley paper - showing Monica Edwards with Richard Dimbleby and her own father at Thursley Horse Show in the 1950s. The original book had no map, so the publishers inserted one from later bookswhich precedes the story proper and this is reproduced in full, with all illustrations included. Variations on the illustrations from those in the serial are shown in the Publishing History, and there is added information as to what minor changes have been made to the original text. These are, it must be said, very minor. Another beautiful book. Published at £12 including postage from the publishers within the UK - a little more if you pay by other than cheque - it's a fascinating bargain.

the GGBP edition cover