Query re buying old children's books on Amazon

[atthewelles]

I like buying old children's books that I enjoyed as a child eg Noel Streatfeild, the Drina books and the Wells books. However, I really only like getting fairly old copies (no later than 1970s) as that is part of the charm as far as I'm concerned. However, there seems to be no way of telling what year the edition you're buying was published in and it just seems to be pot luck whether you get a nice old copy from the 1950s with a lovely nostalgic cover or a cheap 1990s paperback with a photograph of a modern looking child in a tutu on the front.
Is there a way of discovering this before you purchase?

Thanks.

I don't know about Amazon, but I have bought old classics I enjoyed as a child from Abebooks and can highly recommend.

Thanks so much Grumpy. I have now just bought a lovely first edition Noel Streatfeild from that site.

Very grateful.

Try also topsyturvybooks.co.uk and www.stellabooks.com/
I am another fan of buying old editions (though I like it best when I can get them in charity shops...)

Thanks for those links, wearymum.

I've bought from Abebooks as well (Antonia Forrest) - nice to have the same edition I remember from my yoof :)

Amazon put the year of publication on the search page. E.g. I've just looked up 'In the Fifth at Malory Towers' and immediately I can see a 1995 copy, a 2006 copy and a 1975 copy. Is this what you mean?

Thanks Lee (and everyone else), Yes, that's what I mean. I can never see the year of publication but I'll try again.

I would love to source old childhood favourites in charity shops but all I ever seem to see in those shops are Maeve Binchys, thrillers and self help books. Maybe English charity shops are better than Irish ones.