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	3 shillings and 6 d			42	d	17.5	p
WORRALS CARRIES ON	1942	4 shillings and 6 d			54	d	22.5	p
WORRALS FLIES AGAIN	1942	5 shillings and 0 d			60	d	25	p
WORRALS ON THE WAR-PATH	1943	5 shillings and 0 d			60	d	25	p
WORRALS GOES EAST	1944	5 shillings and 0 d			60	d	25	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	7 shillings and 6 d		?	90	d	37.5	p
WORRALS GOES AFOOT	1949	6 shillings and 0 d			72	d	30	p
WORRALS IN THE WASTELANDS	1949	7 shillings and 6 d		?	90	d	37.5	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	6d			6	d	2.5	p
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	7 shillings and 6 d			90	d	37.5	p
DESERT NIGHT	1938	7 shillings and 6 d			90	d	37.5	p
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
NO MOTIVE FOR MURDER (US Version)	1958	$2.95 (In 1959 £1 = $2.80)			253	d	105	p
THE MAN WHO LOST 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	2 shillings and 6 d			30	d	12.5	p
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	5 shillings and 0 d			60	d	25	p
THE BIGGLES BOOK OF HEROES	1959	10 shillings and 6 d			126	d	52.5	p
THE BIGGLES BOOK OF TREASURE HUNTING	1962	11 shillings and 6 d			138	d	57.5	p
SKY HIGH	1936	3 shillings and 6 d			42	d	17.5	p
STEELEY FLIES AGAIN	1936	3 shillings and 6 d			42	d	17.5	p
MURDER BY AIR	1937	3 shillings and 6 d			42	d	17.5	p
THE MURDER AT CASTLE DEEPING	1938	3 shillings and 6 d			42	d	17.5	p
WINGS OF ROMANCE	1939	2 shillings and 6 d			30	d	12.5	p
THE MISSING PAGE - In "The Thriller" - issue no 454  - 16th Oct	1937	2d			2	d	0.8	p

This list has been compiled from my own collection and information from other collectors as well as original advertisements.

It will be helpful in determining whether a particular book has a first edition dust wrapper.

It is interesting to note that an entire set of first edition NON Biggles books could have been bought for a total of £20 pounds, 15 shillings and 3d.

If one adds on the price of the all the Biggles books (bearing in mind that 'Comrades in Arms' is also in this list) then the total payable for a complete collection of the first editions of

W. E. Johns would be £55 pounds 1 shilling and 1d which is less than you pay to fill up your car with petrol today!

If anybody thinks there are any errors with these prices then please e-mail me by clicking here

TO SEE THE BIGGLES PRICE LIST JUST CLICK HERE

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