Tuesday 18 August 2009

Ladybird Library

You may have noticed that, like any sensible person, I have a bit of a 'thing' for vintage ladybird books. Would you like to see my ladybird library? You would? Well, I must warn you to look away now if you are of a jealous disposition...


Isn't is great? That is an old postcard stand that I got out of a skip. Well, I say 'I', but I sent my mum and dad to get it in their car under cover of darkness after I spotted it on my way home. I called my mum to tell her about it, and she had actually spotted it the day before but had forgotten to tell me about it! Great minds think alike, eh. When they went to get it there was already someone having a look in the skip so they walked past to the end of the road and then came back, hoping he would have left... but when they got back there was a different old man in the skip - with a torch!


It was missing its base so I screwed it into a wooden ikea plant pot stand on castors (which I got for £1 at a CB of course)


And I got this big 'ladybird book of london' canvas print off ebay with some of my birthday money - I have wanted one of these for ages but was not likely to stump up full price (I think one that size is about £50!)

I sorted them all out a few weeks ago, and removed all my doubles to make space for new ones. I allowed myself 2 copies of the 'well loved tales', as they are, ahem, well loved. I took out all the 'read it yourself' ones as I realised I HATE THEM. I also organised them into categories so that I can actually find what I am looking for, as its blimming difficult to see the spines.


This is them lined up when I took them all off to organise them. I think I have about 250, I bought them for about 20p each. I sometimes pay up to 50p, and I have only splashed out on one 'expensive' one - a copy of 'the nurse' for £1.99 from a charity shop, that I bought to cheer me up the day before I had an operation last summer ;) it says in the front that it will 'help to dispel any fears of the unknown which might be felt by a child about to enter hospital'


This is me on the operating table...


Although I must admit I was MOST disappointed not to receive a hand knitted gift from a nurse. You tricked me, ladybird, you tricked me!

7 comments:

  1. Eeeeekkkk OMG... you did warn me to look away and I didn't and now I'm resembling Shrek I'm so green with envy!!!

    That is one Ladybird collection!!!!! You lucky thing!!!!!!!

    Victoria xxx

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  2. My Brown eyes are now GREEN WITH ENVY!!!!! WOW!! AMAZING collection hun!! You could probably earn a lot form those hun...I saw a seller on Ebay trying to charge £60 for my fave Cinderella!!!!
    Love the canvas too!! the stand is a great find Also!
    Annie x

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  3. Yup, I hate the Read it Youself ones too - sooo cheesy in the wrong way. I keep a few as a teacher, in case they just happen to be right for a given child, though. Mine not to reason why...

    Now, you seem to be the expert I have been looking for. We have been blackberrying like mad here in southern France and every third blackberry branch I look at takes me straight back to an illustration in a Ladybird Book. It MAY have been a book of hymns and prayers, or it may have been one of the other ones I owned. Do you have any suggestions, because it's becoming a bit of an obsession? Thanks, Dolly...

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  4. WHAT A GREAT SOLUTION TO STORE YOUR AMAZING COLLECTION OF VINTAGE BOOKS!
    AND THE BEST THING... IT WAS FREE!
    MY FAVOURITE WORD AFTER CHEAP! LOL

    ENJOY LIFE`S SIMPLE TREASURES,
    DEBBIE MOSS

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  5. Hello Dolly!! ( isn't that a film?)
    Anyhoo..I have nominated you for an award as I have been enjoying your blog so much!

    Annie x

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  6. Hey You!!!!

    Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog, of course I had to pop over for a visit and instantly I knew I loved it! Because I too collect LB Books although I don't have as many - jealous? me?

    Have a peek at these:
    http://mable-rose.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-ladybird-picture-puzzle.html

    http://mable-rose.blogspot.com/2009/05/uh-oh-dolly-emergency-not-for-faint.html

    I am looking for THE PARTY - I have seen it on ebay , but it costs loads!!!!

    Take care
    Speak soon!!! I'm off to look for one of those canvases!

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  7. hmmm i checked my prayer books and there is no sign of a blackberry bush... I will keep my eyes peeled and get back to you if I come across it!

    And 'the party' is on my wishlist too... its one of the rare ones through, isn't it? boooo!

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Thank you for all your comments! I get ridiculously pleased whenever I get one! xxx