Commercial Vehicles, 1964, Series 584 (revised 1969)

The Ladybird Book of Commercial Vehicles, 1964, Series 584. There were two or 3 different editions of this book published as technology changed and Ladybird tried to keep pace. Commercial Vehicles is a ‘spotting’ book – filled with pictures of quite a wide range different vehicles of the period and the information to identify them.  It is illustrated with adapted beautiful painted illustrations rather than photographs, which definitely adds to its charm.  These vehicles range from Bedford Vans to tankers and transporters.  It is thought that the illustrations were produced by commercial artists employed by Rover (the employer of the writer whose pen name was ‘David Carey’)  but, unsually for Ladybird, the artist is not named.

This is quite a hard-to-find book and is the revised 1969 edition.  It’s in fair to good condition inside and out, with rather worn covers and the feel of a repaired spine – but generally good, clean pages (stain in the corner of one page).  It dates from the early 1970s and has the original price or 15p on the back.