Johns, W.E.

i) Biggles series, 664 volumes; ii) Biggles Omnibus, 37 volumes; iii) Biggles works in translation, 84 volumes; iv) Worrals series, 43 volumes; v) Gimlet series, 53 volumes; vi) Space series, 46 volumes; vii) other novels, including Steeley series, 60 volumes; viii) Annuals, compilations of stories and other volumes, including biographical works, catalogues, occasional papers, etc., 90 volumes; ix) Periodicals, c. 250 volumes; mostly 8vo, mostly original bindings, occasional spotting and browning, occasional wear to bindings(c.1327)

This extensive collection is a rich bibliographical resource and features many early editions, later reprints, paperback editions and more recent limited edition reprints. Many include their dust-jackets. Highlights include:

The Camels are Coming. Hamilton, [c.1933], later edition (colour frontispiece), 32pp. publisher’s catalogue original cloth, worn, facsimile dust-jacket;

The Cruise of the Condor. Hamilton, [c.1933], first edition, colour frontispiece and other plates, original cloth, dust-jacket, loss to dust-jacket (protected by facsimile), adhesive tape repairs to dust-jacket;

Biggles Flies Again. Hamilton, [1934], first edition, colour frontispiece and other plates, original cloth, dust-jacket, loss and tears to dust-jacket, adhesive tape repairs to dust-jacket;

Desert Night. Hamilton, [1938], original cloth, slightly skewed, facsimile dust-jacket;

The Murder at Castle Deeping. Hamilton, [1938], first edition (although no catalogue at end), original cloth, dust-jacket (with “5’-” sticker on upper inside flap), dust-jacket frayed and chipped at extremities;

Worrals of the W.A.A.F. Lutterworth Press, 1941, first edition, original cloth, reprint dust-jacket (title on lower wrapper), lacking front free endpaper, dust-jacket worn and soiled with some loss

The periodicals comprise i) Modern Boy, 1930-1939, 79 volumes; ii) Popular Flying, 1934-1938, 18 volumes; iii) My Garden, 1936-1942, 22 volumes; iv) Men Only, 1937-1941, 11 volumes; v) Girl’s Own Paper, 1939-1941, 25 volumes; vi) Boy’s Own Paper, 1941-1942, 22 volumes and 1951-1958, 16 volumes; vii) Britannia and Eve, 1941-1942, 3 volumes; viii) Biggles and Co., 1992-1996, 17 volumes; ix) Biggles Flies Again, 1997-2013, 37 volumes; together with several others and a large collection of clippings, several of which appear to be from the collection of the author, many disbound, some lacking covers, numerous tears and creases