Posted by Owen Roberts on March 01, 2015 at 13:35:50 user OwenRoberts.
In Reply to: Re: Ransome First Editions, anyone? posted by Peter Ceresole on March 01, 2015 at 11:18:05:
Interesting observation, Peter.
Whilst your books may all have been purchased around 1948, it may depend on when they were printed.
You can gain a good idea by searching for the list of impression dates near the front of the book. Perhaps the faded ones were printed during WW2?
Printing standards during WW2 were pared down and some books have a stamp at the back to say that they were produced in conformity with war time standards. This may well have applied to covers and their colouring.
My own second-hand copy of WH was produced in 1942 with poor (comparatively) paper, less blank pages at the front and back and the economy stamp.
Generally books produced up to 1940 had much heavier better quality paper; this was never equalled post war.
This means that ML, PM & GN were never produced on really good paper. B6 is interesting as the first edition appears to be printed on good paper, this may have printed on pre war paper stocks held over.
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