Captain Cook, 1958, Series 561 (later style cover)

Captain Cook was the  was the 6th title in the 561 series, colourfully written by L du Garde Peach and illustrated by John Kenney.

The story of Cook is not as popular a topic for children’s history as they used to be.  Perhaps that’s because explorers are now bound up with the concept of empire and exploitation.  However, as this book makes clear, Cook’s skills as a navigator are a good reason to reason him as ever – and something less well known than his association with Australiasia or Oceana or whatever it’s called.  As ever, it’s a good tale, well-told and beautifully illustrated (of course).

This copy:

This matt copy has the later style ‘blue framed’ boards (it’s the original version, though) and is in very good condition inside and out.  Only very light wear and very nice, clean pages (a small name and date top of front endpapers but in pencil – would erase).  It dates to the 1970s and has the original price of 40p on the back.