Category Archives: Puffin Post

Puffin Post no.1 pages 11 and 12

1966, Clive King, Illustration, Puffin Club, Puffin Post, Richard Kennedy

Slightly ahead of schedule again! This is the first part of a really nice article that is particularly of interest to visual artists – it’s not often that you can get an insight into how an artist works (well alright, Quentin Blake was on BBC4 recently talking to Mark Lawson, but that was a rare insight! You can’t count SMart any more, thanks to the BBC decision not to screen anything featuring Mark Speight ever again – don’t get me started!!)

Anyway, back to business: This is the longest of the features in this first copy of Puffin Post. It certainly paved the way for future features. The only thing that is missing is the call for young readers to send in examples of their own work! I actually miss it!

Image from the collection of Ruth – Founder member 1487 – Restored S. Hassan Nov 2008

A little treat…

1974, Fat Puffin, Jill McDonald, Puffin Club, Puffin Post, TOMCAT


I know that the serialisation of the first Puffin Post is quite exciting for Puffinophiles (is that a word?!), but I thought that it would be nice to post one of those throwaway images that Jill used to produce for all kinds of communication that were sent to the Puffin Club members.

I think it’s a charming little illustration – it’s from a folded sheet that had a load of competitions – the six star prizes being a Puffin Holiday (that normally cost £30.00 – this was in 1974!)

Puffin Post no.1 pages 7 and 8

1966, Kaye Webb, Puffin Club, Puffin Post

Here is the correspondents page – well, letters to Kaye that became the first letters to Puffin Post. The comments could have been made yesterday! (Apart from the lack of reference to the internet, mobile phones and JK Rowling!). The facing page is the first of three pages to tease and test the avid reader of 1966. Can you identify who the first three are?

I’m pleased to say that I scored rather well, as did my daughters.

Image from the collection of Ruth – Founder member 1487 – Restored S. Hassan Nov 2008

Puffin Post no.1 pages 5 and 6

Alan Garner, Kaye Webb, Puffin Club, Puffin Post

It’s only been a couple of days, but this one was very easy to prepare. Here is the very first author ‘profile’ article. This is a lot of fun for a tiny piece.

I remember the days when Harry Potter didn’t grace our shelves – the only books of magic that made the ‘hot list’ were by the likes of Alan Garner, Susan Cooper (Dark is Rising Sequence) and Tolkien.

As a little aside, it seems strange today to know that Kaye Webb’s predecessor, Eleanor Graham, rejected The Hobbit as she thought children wouldn’t be interested! It was probably a sign that it was time for someone new to take the reins! Kaye spotted Stig of the Dump, which had been rejected by the other publishing houses (and it’s still in print!).

Image from the collection of Ruth – Founder member 1487 – Restored S. Hassan Nov 2008

Puffin Post no.1 pages 3 and 4

Jill McDonald, Kaye Webb, Puffin Club, Puffin Post

Slightly earlier than planned – here are pages 3 and 4! Of course, now that we have digital presses and (almost) everything is computerised, things have changed slightly. It’s funny to have a Puffin Post without the presence of Jill McDonald on every page – but important none the less.

For those who are interested, the first Puffin Post was only 10.5cm x 7cm – the same size as the old membership books!

Image from the collection of Ruth – Founder member 1487 – Restored S. Hassan Nov 2008

Puffin Post no.1 pages 1 and 2

Kaye Webb, Puffin Club, Puffin Post


Here are the promised first pages of Puffin Post number 1 (in fact I don’t think it can really be said to have a number, but I have to call it something). It’s wonderful to read Kaye’s words in the light of the rebirth of the club. It’s very poignant considering the upcoming 70th anniversary of Puffin books.

Image from the collection of Ruth – Founder member 1487 – Restored S. Hassan Oct 2008

How rare is this?

1966, Kaye Webb, Puffin Club, Puffin Post

Very rare! This is the cover of the very first Puffin Post – pre Puffin Club – which was circulated in selected books in 1966. We are very lucky that Ruth saved this amazing piece of history. As you would expect, it hasn’t escaped some wear and tear, but it has been kept very well and restoring this has proved less eye-crossing than most.

To view the ENTIRE contents of this slice of Puffinalia, return to this blog in the weeks leading up to Christmas and I will endeavour to get it posted fairly regularly.

Thanks again Ruth!

Image from the collection of Ruth – Founder member 1487 – Restored S. Hassan Oct 2008

What’s wrong with me – another Puffin Envelope!

envelope, Jill McDonald, Puffin Club, Puffin Post

This is a lovely example of the earlier envelope graphics that sported the coloured paper. It doesn’t have the flamboyant look of the later envelopes, but it has such charm a playfulness about it that I can see why it was saved.

This is the only example of the early graphic that I have seen (I only ever received the later envelopes when I was a member) I would love to see any other examples if any of you out there would like me to work my restorers art on them.

Image from the collection of Ruth – Founder member 1487 – Restored S. Hassan Oct 2008