Aladdin (series 740) 1975

Aladdin (series 740) 1975

This is one of the titles that led on to the Children’s Classics series – one of  the most extensive series ever.  It is an interesting transition book, published at the point when everything changed at the Ladybird company.  The ‘old-guard’ had retired, the new owners appointed new managers and there was a desire to sweep away the old.

The book breaks away from the ‘text on the left, picture on the right’ format and has the lighter, sketchier illustrations of the later years.  On the other hand, the artist is the masterful Robert Ayton, who illustrated so many classic non-fiction books of the golden years – and his brilliant visual story-telling shines through still.

Retold by Marie Stuart and illustrated by Robert Ayton.

This copy.

This copy is in good condition – the spine is heavily worn and sunned and there are some marks/discoloration to the edges.  The pencil to the front endpapers would easily erase.  Generally the pages are nice and clean.

It dates to the 1970s and has the original price of 24p on the back.