A Guide to identifying FIRST EDITION LADYBIRD books

Wills and Hepworth did not have the collector in mind when publishing their books and as a result, many first editions are difficult to identify. Many booksellers and new collectors to Ladybird believe that if a book states 'First published 19xx' and has no other date, then it will be a first edition, but this couldn't be further from the truth.

Check the dustwrapper flap or catalogue listAll Ladybird books prior to 1965 were published with dust-wrappers and usually had a list of titles from the series on the rear flap. A true first edition will always be the last title listed or in a few books, it may not even be on the list at all. If your title is the last on the list, then it MAY be a first edition, but there are other points to check first. If the title appears in the middle of the list, then it is definately not a first edition.If your book is missing it's dustwrapper, you can check the catalogue at the back of the book. Up until 1955, most ladybird books were published with 56 pages rather than the standard 52, and one of these pages would sometimes be used to advertise other books (not necessarily from the same series). From this list of books, you will be able to date the last titles listed in each series and this usually gives an approximation of the date to within a year.

Dated EditionsSome early editions were produced with dates and edition numbers. This information was always found on the reverse side of the front flyleaf.Books published in 1940 and 1941 tend not to have any dates on their first editions, these were from series 401, 413 and 417. However later editions up to 1955 would often have the date and edition printed.

Copies fromthe late1970'shave a date printed inside the bottom of the first page in roman numerals.

Tally numbersBetween 1963 and 1974, some Ladybird books have a 'tally number' printed somewhere on the book, usually found on the back flap of the dustwrapper or on a matt edition can be located at the bottom of the back board. The tally number indicates the approximate number of titles published so far by Ladybird.100 = 1963 and 1964120-140 = 1965150-170 = 1966190-200 = 1967 and 1968210-225 = 1968230-260 = 1969270-280 = 1970 and 1971300 = 1972320-340 = 1973350-370 = 1974

Spine text directionAnother indication of age can be determined by looking at the direction of the text on a book spine and it's dustwrapper. All spine titles ran from bottom to top until 1959, after which Wills