The Three Golliwogs

Bedtime Stories Antiquarian & Collectible Young Adult Fiction Children's Adventure Mid-Century British Picture-Book Nostalgic Fiction

The Three Golliwogs 1969 first-edition hardcover is one of the scarcest Enid Blyton titles in collectible condition, and this personalised, inscribed copy adds instant provenance to any Blyton shelf. Only the true 1969 Dean & Son printing carries the original text and the now-controversial characters that were later re-illustrated and renamed, making untouched first printings increasingly hard to find. With 184 packed pages of full-colour plate adventure, the book delivers the fast-moving escapism that keeps modern readers—both nostalgic adults and confident young teens—turning pages long after lights-out.

Inside, Tootle, Woggy and Wolly bounce from one breezy scrape to the next: outwitting burglars, racing runaway prams and sailing down rivers on homemade rafts, all told in Blyton’s signature clipped prose that still reads aloud beautifully for bedtime. The period illustrations—golliwog figures in bright primary colours—are a time-capsule of mid-century British picture-book art, prized by collectors of antiquarian children’s literature as much for their graphic style as for their place in publishing history. A neat gift inscription (stamped, not hand-written) on the fly-leaf gives the copy a personal story without damaging the block, while the closed page edges show only the light, honest patina you expect from a 55-year-old survivor.

For the buyer, this is the sweet-spot copy: tight in its bindings, clean through the text block, and complete with all four colour plates—no pen trials, no torn leaves, no library stamps. Whether you are filling a gap in a Blyton first-edition set, hunting a standout gift for a collector of vintage bedtime stories, or simply want the genuine 1969 adventure that later reprints quietly censored, this illustrated hardcover delivers rarity, nostalgia and readable fun in one 184-page package.

Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.

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