WISH FOR A PONY

Collins 1947 First edition

illustrated by Anne Bullen Set around Rye Harbour, Sussex. The author's first book, introducing the heroine Tamzin Grey, daughter of the vicar of Westling, and her friend Rissa. First edition: published April 1947; pale green boards with a vignette of a pony's head in red on the front board; 135x200mm; 159 pp; frontispiece, 19 line illustrations, and tailpiece. Dustwrapper: head and shoulders 'portrait' of white pony, sea in background; Anne Bullen credited on spine; rear flap advertises No Mistaking Corker.

Reprinted:

1951: [SE List; may refer to Collins Crown Library edn]

Other Editions:

Collins Crown Library 1951

Collins Crown Library 1951: Overall a larger and thicker book than the first edition; yellow boards, red lettering, no star on spine; plain front board; 130x200mm; 159pp; rear of title page has THIS EDITION 1951; rear of last page has advertisement for Collins Magazine; all the original illustrations. Dustwrapper: red, with vignettes on spine and front; spine has black and white vignette of girl rider jumping, front vignette colour, of girl and pony in stable - artist not credited but probably not Bullen; rear of d/w does not list Summer of the Great Secret amongst the other Crown Library issues; my copy is price clipped but has 6/- overseas printed above clip line.

Collins Seagull Library 1956
listed by SE but not seen by him. No information.

Collins Laurel and Gold series 1957: A small hardback edition with dustwrapper; overall size 159x105mm (approx 6.5x4 inches); orange cloth with gilt blocking - title and author and series logo on front board, title and number '185' and 'Collins' on spine. On the back of the title page is printed First Edition, March, 1957 (a source of some confusion); 192 pages; not abridged; the use of capitals in the first edition retained for this edition; all the original Bullen illustrations bar two, though with new captions; dustwrapper not seen. A very nice edition, and clearly printed, having the advantage of a better quality of paper than the other editions which makes the illustrations particularly crisp. Issued in a 2nd impression 1960.

Collins Laurel and Gold edition 1957

Children's Press c1957:
Complete text; cheaper paper with a tendency to brown with age; 17 of the original illustrations by Anne Bullen were used in these editions.

Children's Press d/w c1957-1966

Dustwrapper: Tamzin and Rissa on ponies by the sea, artist not credited but probably not Anne Bullen. Reprinted several times until 1966. New dustwrapper by Geoffrey Whittam introduced after 1966 but book still carried that date and was reprinted 1968 now with pictorial boards of Whittam's newer design. This was reprinted again in 1969 and 1970.

Children's Press 1968 edn

Armada 1963

Armada 1963: reprinted after 1966: cover by Mary Gernat; all original illustrations; 159pp; text has the capitals of the original text replaced with italics for stressed words in the children's speech; cover price 2/6; Armada number C25

B. Wahlströms Bokförlag 1971:
Swedish hardback edition; as Monica klarar alla hinder.

Collins Pony Library 1972: new edition; Number One in the 'Pony Library' series; one of four of her books published in these editions: pictorial boards, artist not credited, but neither Bullen nor Whittam; 125x190mm (approx 7.5x5 inches); cheap paper; 159pp; text has italics to replace the original use of capitals for stressed words; not abridged as far as I can tell; with all of the original Bullen illustrations except the frontispiece; rear of title page states First printed in this new edition 1972; ISBN 0-00-164301-0. Reprinted 1973:

Collins Pony Library edition cover artist unknown

Norwegian edition cover

Norwegian edition (1974/5) Published by Fredhöis Forlag as Monica Klarer Alle Hindre Translation by Håkon Qviller Small hardback edition, 159pp; no illustrations; cover illustration not credited; ISBN 82-04-00523-7; cp KR. 19,50 The book is not dated but is listed by the author as 1974/5. The title might be translated as 'Monica Clears All Hurdles' and indicates that Tamzin's name is changed to Monica for this translation. Rissa becomes Rita and Diccon Dick, thankfully Jim stays firmly Jim.

1976 Braille edn New Zealand
Listed thus by SE but not seen by him.
Joy Wotton has (Sept 2009) found it listed in the current library catalogue of the RNZFB (New Zealand), which confirms its existance, but no further information given.

Goodchild 1984: Hardback edition with dustwrapper; revised by the author. Green cloth with gold blocking on spine; 156pp; no illustrations; no map. Full colour wrap-around dustwrapper by Gordon King; ISBN 0-86391-002-5; (cover price £6.25: 1984)

dustwrapper by Gordon King for the Goodchild edition 1984