TWO FAIR PLAITS

First edition wrapper by Lunt Roberts

The second book in the Jillies series. The Jillies are at home this time. The adventure takes place in the mists of London when Mandy, Prue and Tim try to help a rather mysterious old lady neighbour. With the assistance of their friends Mark and Guy they are eventually successful, though at times it looks as though all will fail.

Reprinted:

2nd impression 1950: as the first edition including colour frontispiece by Lunt Roberts, but with a new dustwrapper picture by Wynne. This shows the main characters crowded around the dinghy. Mandy's red beret is prominent; cp 7s 6d. [Odd, and I may be wrong, but it seems to me that the girl they are all searching for is actually included the picture] My error ! Thanks to Glynne Steele for pointing out to me that the girl by the boat is Sandy, the child who is knocked over in the fog whilst trying to deliver the ransom note to Mrs Hawkins, then helps the Jillies. Mystery solved.

Second edition wrapper by Wynne

Other editions:

Odhams 1952: As Secret in the Mist

The first frames of the first episode

first Armada edition

Armada 1966: Paperback; 159pp; 10 illustrations; Armada numberC159; cp 2/6; cover not credited; ¾ logo; May Fair as publisher. Reprinted about 1969, thicker book; same cover picture but lettering change and later simplified ship logo; cp 2/6 in black box front, rear dual pricing '2/6 (12½p)'; rear 'blurb' changed. [Later copy seen cp 3/6]

later Armada variant cover

White Lion edition dustwrapper

White Lion 1977: Hardback edition with dustwrapper; blue boards with gilt block; map front endpaper only; no frontispiece; all original b/w illustrations by Lunt Roberts; 192pp; cp £2.50.

[Severn House (? mentioned in publicity material, but thought to be error)]

Het Spectrum 1961: (Holland) One of the Prisma Juniores series as Ontvoering in de mist paperback, reference number J 164; cover by C. W. Voges is misty dock scene with girl on narrow boat; map at rear; illustrations by Lunt Roberts; 190pp

The Het Spectrum edition

French edition cover 1962 by Françoise Bertier

Éditions Gautier-Languerau 1962: (France) as Deux Tresses Blondes A small (5x7 inches - 13x18cm) hardback edition with pictorial boards and new illustrations by Françoise Bertier. My copy has no dustwrapper and it was probably issued without. There are decorative endpapers in a blue and white design; a list at the back of the book gives other titles in the Nouvelle Bibliothèque de Suzette in which this is number 47. Translated by Yvonne Girault, main character names are as the first edition and there are a couple of explanatory notes added to the bottom of relevant pages. One of these is to explain the traditional use, in England at Christmas, of mistletoe !

There are 120 numbered pages. There is no map included, but the eight chapters have each a black and white line chapter-header and one full-page drawing as well. In addition, there are four colour plates inside the book, giving a total of twenty illustrations, not counting the cover.
In all a very attractive little book.