Charles II, 1965, Series 561 (DJ)

Charles II was the 9th title in the 561 series, colourfully written by L du Garde Peach and illustrated by John Kenney.

In this lively telling of the life of the Merry Monach, Peach also tells us the other side to the story of the English Civil War – the other side of which is recounted in ‘Oliver Cromwell’.  But this book also dwells on the years after the restitution of the monarchy, including the Great Plague, the Great Fire of London and the great re-building.

This copy:

This copy still has its original dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped.  The DJ is in good condition but for the following: colour loss foot of spine panel (insect damage).  Inside the book has a neat inscription to the front (blue open-wing) endpapers but the main problem is a small brown stain to the back endpapers/edge of back dj flap.  Unfortunately this brown mark has ‘bled’ through to mar the edges of half the pages.  A pity because otherwise the pages are in good shape, and with the last title on the back DJ flap Julius Caesar and Roman Britain, I believe this to be a first edition.