I’m on the hunt for a lovely complete set of at least the first six original books of Olive Beaupre Miller’s collection. Can someone help me choose the most loved and authentic edition … I’ve read that it’s advisable to avoid the 1971 editions … I’m seeing some nice sets from the 20s on Amazon and Ebay. Thoughts on this? I remember having a discussion here a couple of years ago but I can’t find it now.
Hey, I have some of my grandmother’s set from 1925. If you can get some good ones from that time, I’d suggest either from the 20’s or 30’s. I also have have a set from 71 and, though I’m happy I have it for $10, I’m still trying to gatehr together another set to complete my grandmother’s-using ones from the 20’s and 30’s. I have some from both and the illustrations are lovely-the 71 ones aren’t as lovely; more “printed-like” and has less of that hand-drawn look.
Dover has started reprinting some, though I don’t know if they are hardback or not. I think they are based on the 1935/1937 version?. The harder ones to find: In the Nursery and Storytime.
I’ve got books two through six of the 1920, ’25, ’28 version. Haven’t seen the 70s version, but the ones I have are just precious. We enjoy them quite a bit. Lots of diversity between poetry, stories from all over the globe, and some great drawings. Our dds have tried to convince me to have them do copywork of the pictures instead of the poems. I think some of them would work as they are detailed yet simple, so we may try that for a change this summer.
I have a complete set from the 20s, but we have so many other books they sit unused for the most part. Dd5 loves the nursery rhyme book, but I don’t think my older kids have even cracked them. A shame really because they are lovely.