Christopher Columbus, 1961, Series 561 (DJ)

Christopher Columbus was the 12th title in the 561 series, colourfully written by L du Garde Peach and illustrated by John Kenney.

The adventures of Christopher Columbus are 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 – or perhaps because later research makes us question who really was the first person to ‘discover’ the Americas and what that actually means.  Anyway, it’s a good tale, well-told and beautifully illustrated (of course).

This copy:

This copy still has its original dustwrapper (not price-clipped).  Both book and DJ are in very good condition – pale foxing to the DJ and a few minor spots, rubs and nicks.  The book has good, clean pages.  It is the last title listed on the back DJ flap so I believe it to be a first edition.