Puffin Post 1968
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Treasured Trove from the Scrapbook of Serendipity
A joyous slice of randomness, dipping into the Scrapbook of Serendipity on such diverse gubbins as (hopefully): lighthouses, labyrinths, bicycles, Sherlock Holmes, telephones, surreal fish, chessboards, vegetables, rockets, giraffes, Alice, chocolate, frosty mornings, and suchlike.
About Me
- Johnnynorms
- Tall ramshackle creative chap in the middle of a triangle of music, pictures, words.
11 comments:
Hi,
Do you know whether these wonderful covers were designed by Jill McDonald? I'd love to know because I'm researching McDonald for a project in New Zealand (where she originated!).
Cheers!
MY
Hello MY,
Yes - definitely Jill McDonald. She was 'house-illustrator' for the Puffin Club, and did many covers. Vol 1 No.4, and Vol 2 No.1 both credit JM on the back cover, the others seem to be uncredited but the style is unmistakable.
I knew she was from New Zealand, but know little else - I couldn't find her on the Internet. I think I could find a picture of her, as Puffin Post had coverage of the yearly Puffin Exhibition in London, and other events - and she must be in some.
I'd be interested to hear a little more background about her, do tell! Good luck with the research.
Did you see the first PP posting: http://differentfishkettle.blogspot.com/2006/10/this-should-take-few-people-back-vol-1.html
woowwww!! so many details! love it!
Love these scans of Puffin Post covers. Please keep them coming if you have any more...
I was a Puffin Club member from about 1977 to the early 80s. Am amazed there isn't a proper resource on the Web about the club and its accompanying Puffin Shows in London.
Hi dickon,
Your Puffin Club membership span is much the same as mine. These earlier issues belong to my brother.
Did you keep all the magazines? They are such treasures. I agree it's bizarre that there isn't yet anything devoted to it on the web.
Well, I shall scan some more of them in when I have a chance..
I think my parents may have a few stashed away somewhere. Just went to the British Library, and they have pretty much every single issue of Puffin Post from No 1 right through to the mid 80s. The classic period is the 70s, when Jill MacDonald goes particularly weird on the cover artwork, not least with her Shakesperean dog and his barely readable speech balloons...! There's also a couple of Puffin Annuals in the mid 70s, full of short stories from names like Tove Jansson, Russell Hoban, Roald Dahl, Joan Aiken, and Norman Hunter.
The Spring issue 1982 is when it all changes. Kaye Webb announces Jill MacDonald's death and her own retirement. Puffin Post then continues under different editors, before changing from the classic A5 format to a rather thin and less beautiful A4 version. Then after about six issues, the run stops in Summer 1985. I think Kaye Webb and Jill MacDonald were the real soul of the club and Puffin Post.
Sniffup -Spottera indeed! I was a Puffineer too! Was trying to find out about the club for my daughter and found nothing on the web—until this! My cover design actually won in 1976—it was the first illustration I ever published. I still have all my old Puffin Posts. Kept my badges too...PLEASE set up a website for middle-aged Puffineers and their kids...(I'm in the U.S.)
thanks for the info Dickon, I agree with you about Kaye Webb and Jill McDonald. I didn't know what happened to JM, finding out so many years on is no less saddening.
Hi anonymous - I have that very issue, it was in my own era of belonging. Someone should definitely start a website, not me as I have a large family of blog, myspace and flickrs already!
Love the old Puffin Post covers.
I know someone who is after old members memories of Puffin Post, the email address to send memories to is friends@puffinpost.co.uk.
Also, have you seen this?
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14426476403&ref=ts
There's also another Facebook group - just search for 'Puffineers' to join up - or you could also visit my growing blog dedicated to those golden years - www.puffinclubarchive.blogspot.com - I have to admit that my large collection and personal searches into all thing Puffin wouldn't have launched onto the web if I hadn't seen your posting in early '07. So it's your fault! Thanks for the push!
Thanks for the comment thin puffin, I headed over to your blog and enjoyed it immensely.
http://puffinclubarchive.blogspot.com/
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