The Seashore and Seashore Life, 1964 (DJ)

The Seashore and Seashore Life, 1964 edition.  Series 536.

This book is written by Nancy Scott, with jewel-like, vibrant illustrations by Jill Payne.  Payne was one of a rare breed – a female illustrator working for Ladybird over the ‘golden years’ – between the late 1950s and early 70s.  If you ever get a chance to see her original artwork for her Ladybird books, take it.  The original artwork is painted to about the same size as the final picture in the book – exquisite.

This copy still has its original unclipped dustwrapper.  Because this was the last book in the series ever to have been issued with a dustwrapper, it was issued in this format for a very short time and consequently is quite hard to find now.   This copy has its faults.  The cover is marked and discoloured (see picture).  There are rubs and chips to the edges and there’s a disfiguring 1cm scuff on the spine panel.    Inside, bar a small neat name to the endpapers, the book is in very good condition.  I believe this to be a first edition.  It has a tally number of 100 on the back DJ flap.