Posted by Robert Thompson on May 20, 1999 at 18:42:27 from tenor1.demon.co.uk:
In Reply to: Re: Australian newsletter website posted by Lionel Hill on May 19, 1999 at 13:30:05:
Furthest versus Farthest:
As far as I know only the Puffin copies from 1962-1986ish had the spelling changed to Farthest. My 1934 and 1939 Cape editions both have Furthest, as does my Lippincott American edition, my Godine (American) paperback and my Red Fox paperback. There is also a unique edition of S&A and Winter Holiday in one volume (Cresset Press) which also has Furthest, and the Amazon Publication of the first draft of The Swallows and the Amazons has Furthest.
Exactly the same thing seems to have happened with Despatches/Dispatches, both in the first Ransome illustration and in John's first word spoken in the book. Puffin copies alone have Dispatches.
Unfortunately the more I look at the words the more it seems to me that all are spelled incorrectly!
Lionel - I still prefer Furthest South!
Robert Thompson