Goodness! What’s got into me, more than one post in a week! This was a lovely rubber stamp that I vaguely remember being stamped onto the back of the hand of visitors to the 12th exhibition. I asked nicely if I could have one stamped into my Puffin Thinkbook – and I got it!
This was one of a whole set of Jill McDonald designs that appeared on button badges that were also doled out – yes, you guessed it, I’m going to post these as well.
How many of you have one of these? This is the full spread artwork of the Puffin Thinkbook – designed, as always, by Jill McDonald. These blank paperback books were given away as prizes for competitions, and more importantly, on sale to members at some of the Puffin Exhibitions. That’s where I bought my copies.
I must have had a premonition that I would need a pristine copy to use nearly a quarter of a century later, because I kept one copy back from scribbles.
The spine of the book is the fountain pen which wraps around nicely. I’ve been toying with the idea of laser printing the design onto Duralabels and sticking it onto my Moleskine notebook – I think it would look pretty smart!
How many of you have one of these? This is the full spread artwork of the Puffin Thinkbook – designed, as always, by Jill McDonald. These blank paperback books were given away as prizes for competitions, and more importantly, on sale to members at some of the Puffin Exhibitions. That’s where I bought my copies.
I must have had a premonition that I would need a pristine copy to use nearly a quarter of a century later, because I kept one copy back from scribbles.
The spine of the book is the fountain pen which wraps around nicely. I’ve been toying with the idea of laser printing the design onto Duralabels and sticking it onto my Moleskine notebook – I think it would look pretty smart!
Dear blog reader (if you are actually there!!)
There has been a break in service due to lots of work that had to be done, and a Cambridge folk festival that had to be attended. (I’d also run out out of previously finished restoration projects)
To make up for it, here is a Quentin Blake cartoon that was destined for one of the Puffin Annuals. Sadly, there just wasn’t enough room, but it was printed in the pages of Puffin Post – never to be seen again!!!
Professor Blake did many cartoons and mini strips for the Puffin Club and was almost as much a part of the visual personality of the club as Jill McDonald. The contrast in styles had a cross-over in their humour and (again) the surreal side of their narrative.
Dear blog reader (if you are actually there!!)
There has been a break in service due to lots of work that had to be done, and a Cambridge folk festival that had to be attended. (I’d also run out out of previously finished restoration projects)
To make up for it, here is a Quentin Blake cartoon that was destined for one of the Puffin Annuals. Sadly, there just wasn’t enough room, but it was printed in the pages of Puffin Post – never to be seen again!!!
Professor Blake did many cartoons and mini strips for the Puffin Club and was almost as much a part of the visual personality of the club as Jill McDonald. The contrast in styles had a cross-over in their humour and (again) the surreal side of their narrative.
Here’s a jolly cover – Does it get any better than this? Each of these letters is like a little jewel. Each works on its own, but also works as part of the overall composition. My design tutors when I was a student (in the dim mists of time) would have loved this one.
Here’s a jolly cover – Does it get any better than this? Each of these letters is like a little jewel. Each works on its own, but also works as part of the overall composition. My design tutors when I was a student (in the dim mists of time) would have loved this one.
I’ve promised these for a while, so here they are! I found myself sitting next to Kaye Webb at one of the Commonwealth Institute Puffin Exhibitions and was stunned to see her sporting not just one, but three badges! I asked her how I could get them and where they were from.
She told me that the Gold Badge (no.4) was for founder members or those who had done something particularly special.
The Green Badge (no.3) was the members badge in Australia (though Kaye was wearing her Founders Green Badge that looked a bit like her Gold Badge.
The remaining badges are the standard White Badge (no.1) that I have found in different versions – The earlier badges were genuine enamel made by the Davis Badge company of London. Later versions were made with a plastic insert instead of enamel. (You will see a lot of these on ebay).
The last badge is the Black Badge (no.2) that was earned for being a member for four years – these were only ever made in enamel and the quality varied from well finished and ground to rough and distinctly ropey.
The members badge was of course the Puffin Logo designed by Jill McDonald when Kaye Webb became editor of Puffin Books in 1961.
Other classic button badges were made for the various events. I collected a pile of these and some survived better than others. Watch for these in future posts.
As a small addition – I have since learned that there was one solitary badge of gold that was made for club President, Yehudi Menuhin. This was a special gift from Kaye Webb. I assume it is still with the Menuhin family.
I’ve promised these for a while, so here they are! I found myself sitting next to Kaye Webb at one of the Commonwealth Institute Puffin Exhibitions and was stunned to see her sporting not just one, but three badges! I asked her how I could get them and where they were from.
She told me that the Gold Badge (no.4) was for founder members or those who had done something particularly special.
The Green Badge (no.3) was the members badge in Australia (though Kaye was wearing her Founders Green Badge that looked a bit like her Gold Badge.
The remaining badges are the standard White Badge (no.1) that I have found in different versions – The earlier badges were genuine enamel made by the Davis Badge company of London. Later versions were made with a plastic insert instead of enamel. (You will see a lot of these on ebay).
The last badge is the Black Badge (no.2) that was earned for being a member for four years – these were only ever made in enamel and the quality varied from well finished and ground to rough and distinctly ropey.
The members badge was of course the Puffin Logo designed by Jill McDonald when Kaye Webb became editor of Puffin Books in 1961.
Other classic button badges were made for the various events. I collected a pile of these and some survived better than others. Watch for these in future posts.
As a small addition – I have since learned that there was one solitary badge of gold that was made for club President, Yehudi Menuhin. This was a special gift from Kaye Webb. I assume it is still with the Menuhin family.
Another lovely sunny cover. A bit trippy, but still one of my favourites.
This issue has a really nice feel about it – even more cheery than usual.
Maybe it’s because it has pics from the 10th Birthday show