*Children’s Books: Tom Merry is the principal character in the St Jim’s stories which appeared in the boy’s weekly paper, The Gem, from 1907 to 1939. The stories were all written using the pen-name of Martin Clifford, the majority by Charles Hamilton who was more widely known as Frank Richards, the creator of Billy Bunter. After the Gem, interest in Charles Hamilton’s writing increased during the 1950s and further St Jim’s stories were published by Spring Books from about 1949 and by Mandeville from the 1950s. There were 13 books in all, which re-introduced the characters that appeared in the Gem in pre-war days. Confusingly, both Clifford and Richards were credited as authors on different volumes, as in the two examples we have here. Great companion works to Bunter, full of schoolboy japes, adventures and hi-jinks.

PICTURED:
MARTIN CLIFFORD : TOM MERRY & CO OF ST JIM’S Spring Books 1949 1st UK HC VG/FN £6 With DJ (VG/FN) in removable archival film
FRANK RICHARDS: TROUBLE FOR TOM MERRY Spring Books Undated 1950s? UK HC VG/FN £6 With DJ (VG/FN) in removable archival film