ORIGINAL PRICES OF W. E. JOHNS BOOKS

Until decimalization in 1971, Britain has a currency system where there were 240 pennies to a pound and twenty shillings to a pound. A shilling was therefore worth 12 pennies. Pre-decimalization, a sum would normally be written in Pounds, Shillings, Pence (written as £ S D). A "Crown" was 5 shillings but never generally used. They were only minted for special occasions. A "Half Crown" was 2 shillings and 6 pence. A "Florin" was 2 shillings and a "Double Florin" 4 shillings (although this was only minted for four years from 1886 to 1890 and hardly ever used thereafter). A "Ha'penny" was half a penny and a "Farthing" was a quarter of a penny. A Guinea was one pound and one shilling (21 shillings). A "Sixpence" was referred to as a "tanner" in slang and a "Shilling" was also referred to as a "bob". A three penny coin - "Threepence" was pronounced "Thrupence" and two single penny coins making "Twopence" was pronouced "Tupence". Coins after decimalization carried the term "New Pence" (removed in 1982) to differentiate them from old, pre-1971 decimal coins.

BOOK TITLE	YEAR	ORIGINAL PRICE		OLD PENNIES		DECIMAL PRICE

KINGS OF SPACE	1954	7 shillings and 6 d		90	d	37.5	p
RETURN TO MARS	1955	7 shillings and 6 d		90	d	37.5	p
NOW TO THE STARS	1956	7 shillings and 6 d		90	d	37.5	p
TO OUTER SPACE	1957	8 shillings and 6 d		102	d	42.5	p
THE EDGE OF BEYOND	1958	8 shillings and 6 d		102	d	42.5	p
THE DEATH RAYS OF ARDILLA	1959	8 shillings and 6 d		102	d	42.5	p
TO WORLDS UNKNOWN	1960	8 shillings and 6 d		102	d	42.5	p
THE QUEST FOR THE PERFECT PLANET	1961	8 shillings and 6 d		102	d	42.5	p
WORLDS OF WONDER	1962	9 shillings and 6 d		114	d	47.5	p
THE MAN WHO VANISHED INTO SPACE	1963	9 shillings and 6 d		114	d	47.5	p


WORRALS OF THE W.A.A.F.	1941	UNKNOWN
WORRALS CARRIES ON	1942	4 shillings and 6 d		54	d	22.5	p
WORRALS FLIES AGAIN	1942	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
WORRALS ON THE WAR-PATH	1943	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
WORRALS GOES EAST	1944	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
WORRALS OF THE ISLANDS	1945	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
WORRALS IN THE WILDS	1947	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
WORRALS DOWN UNDER	1948	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
WORRALS GOES AFOOT	1949	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
WORRALS IN THE WASTELANDS	1949	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
WORRALS INVESTIGATES	1950	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p


KING OF THE COMMANDOS	1943	5 shillings and 0 d		60	d	25	p
GIMLET GOES AGAIN	1944	5 shillings and 0 d		60	d	25	p
GIMLET COMES HOME	1946	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
GIMLET MOPS UP	1947	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
GIMLET'S ORIENTAL QUEST	1948	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
GIMLET LENDS A HAND	1949	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
GIMLET BORES IN	1950	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
GIMLET OFF THE MAP	1951	6 shillings and 6 d		78	d	32.5	p
GIMLET GETS THE ANSWER	1952	6 shillings and 6 d		78	d	32.5	p
GIMLET TAKES A JOB	1954	6 shillings and 6 d		78	d	32.5	p


MOSSYFACE	1922	UNKNOWN
THE SPYFLYERS	1933	3 shillings and 6 d		42	d	17.5	p
THE RAID	1935	3 shillings and 6 d		42	d	17.5	p
BLUE BLOOD RUNS RED	1936	UNKNOWN
DESERT NIGHT	1938	UNKNOWN
THE UNKNOWN QUANTITY	1940	7 shillings and 6 d		90	d	37.5	p
SHORT SORTIES	1950	7 shillings and 6 d		90	d	37.5	p
DR. VANE ANSWERS THE CALL	1950	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
SKY FEVER	1953	7 shillings and 6 d		90	d	37.5	p
NO MOTIVE FOR MURDER	1958	12 shillings and 6 d		150	d	62.5	p
THE MAN WHO LOSTED HIS WAY	1960	10 shillings and 6 d		126	d	52.5	p
WINGED JUSTICE	2001		£19.50			1950	p


CHAMPION OF THE MAIN	1938	5 shillings and 0 d		60	d	25	p
SINISTER SERVICE	1942	5 shillings and 0 d		60	d	25	p
COMRADES IN ARMS	1947	6 shillings and 0 d		72	d	30	p
RUSTLERS OF RATTLESNAKE VALLEY	1948	5 shillings and 0 d		60	d	25	p
ADVENTURE BOUND	1955	2 shillings and 6 d		30	d	12.5	p
ADVENTURE UNLIMITED	1957	UNKNOWN
WHERE THE GOLDEN EAGLE SOARS	1960	12 shillings and 6 d		150	d	62.5	p
THE ADVENTURES OF THE JUNIOR DETECTION CLUB	1960	10 shillings and 6 d		126	d	52.5	p


THE PICTORIAL FLYING COURSE	1932	5 shillings and 0 d		60	d	25	p
FIGHTING PLANES AND ACES	1932	5 shillings and 0 d		60	d	25	p
THE AIR V.C.'s	1935	3 shillings and 6 d		42	d	17.5	p
SOME MILESTONES OF AVIATION	1935	3 shillings and 6 d		42	d	17.5	p
THE PASSING SHOW	1937	5 shillings and 0 d		60	d	25	p
THE MODERN BOY'S BOOK OF PIRATES	1939	UNKNOWN
THE BIGGLES BOOK OF HEROES	1959	UNKNOWN
THE BIGGLES BOOK OF TREASURE HUNTING	1962	11 shillings and 6 d		138	d	57.5	p


SKY HIGH	1936	UNKNOWN
STEELEY FLIES AGAIN	1936	UNKNOWN
MURDER BY AIR	1937	3 shillings and 6 d		42	d	17.5	p
THE MURDER AT CASTLE DEEPING	1938	UNKNOWN
WINGS OF ROMANCE	1939	2 shillings and 6 d		30	d	12.5	p
THE MISSING PAGE	2000		£19.50			1950	p

This list has been complied from my own collection and may be helpful in determining whether or not a certain book has a first edition wrapper.

If anybody can help me with the unknown prices then please e-mail me by clicking here

A LIST OF THE ORIGINAL PRICES OF THE BIGGLES BOOKS

TO SEE THE BIGGLES PRICE LIST JUST CLICK HERE

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