Lost at the Fair, 1948, Series 401

Lost at the Fair, Ladybird, 1940, Series 401

This was the ninth of the Animal Rhyming stories of series of 401.  The 401 series is significant in the Ladybird story because these books were the first ones published in the format that was to become the classic Ladybird format: small size, with text on the left and a full-page illustration on the right. After the early 1940s, all the books in this series were written in jaunty rhyme by Walter Perring and were illustrated by Angusine Macgregor.  The effect of this rhyme was to lodge in the memory of the young child.  Ask anyone who enjoyed this book as a child and the chances are they can still quote parts of the rhyme decads later.

This copy:

Matt boards. Good condition generally but with a sticky patch towards base of spine where a label once was and rather marked, tired looking endpapers (see photos).  The reading pages are well turned but generally in good shape.  This book dates from the late 1970s and has an original price of 60p on the back.