Light Mirrors and Lenses, Series 621 (DJ)

Light Mirrors and Lenses, 1962  was the 2nd book to be issued in series 621 – Junior Science –  and was originally issued with a dustwrapper.  It was written by Newing and Bowood and, like all the books in this series, was beautifully, lovingly illustrated by Harry Wingfield.  If you aren’t familiar with the series, all four of them are beautiful books, which is not what you might expect from the titles.  But Wingfield’s warm, nostalgic watercolour illustrations tenderly depict the cotton-reels, paperclips, corks and tin cans of a 1960s/70s childhood whilst at the same time clearly illustrating the experiment presented on each page.  These books are also remarkable for their depiction of boys and girls equally active in their experiments with motors, cogs, wind-socks and circuits.

This copy still has its original dj (not price-clipped) and is in good condition – brought down by some foxing to the dj and fraying head and foot of spine. Inside the book is in VG shape, with nice, clean pages but for a neat inscription to the front free endpaper.   The last title listed on the back DJ flap, I believe it to be a first edition.