Книги "I SPY": История и Возрождение Популярной Серии

The I SPY books are spotters' guides written for British children, particularly successful in the 1950s and 1960s in their original form and again when relaunched by Michelin in 2009 after a seven year gap in publishing. A search engine set to look for images, with the words "i spy" News Chronicle Daily Mail Michelin, can illustrate that a range of styles was used.

The I SPY books are a series of around forty small volumes that have sold hundreds of thousands of copies each, totalling sales of 25 million worldwide by 2010. After Warrell's retirement his assistant Arnold Cawthrow became the second Big Chief, and served in this role until 1978. For part of this time he also worked as an antiques dealer in Islington. He died in 1993, and is commemorated by a stone plaque placed on the outside of the Boatmen's Rooms, the house where he spent some of his last years in Deal, Kent. The books were originally self published in 1948 by Charles Warrell but, after a brief period when they were published by the Daily Mail (the initial four being At the Circus, Secret Codes, Dogs and In the Country), they were taken over by the News Chronicle newspaper and based in the paper's building in Bouverie Street. The regular I SPY column, which appeared in the News Chronicle, reverted to the Daily Mail when the News Chronicle ceased publication in 1960, and continued to appear until the late 1980s. The books have had various publishers over the years including the Dickens Press, a company set up to continue the book publishing interests of the News Chronicle, and Polystyle Publications, a publisher of children's comics. The books became very popular, with print runs well into six figures. Big Chief I Spy had a succession of assistants, usually known as "Hawkeye". In the early 1970s, this position was held by Ralph Mills. Earlier assistants included Max Heinz and John Tagholm. In the 1980s, following a short lived third Big Chief, Robin Tucek, David Bellamy replaced Big Chief I Spy as the person to whom completed books were sent, and the earlier Red Indian connections were quietly dropped. Michelin Travel Publications acquired and published the series from 1991 until 2002 when they effectively ceased publication, there were ad hoc sales after that date to clear stocks. The series was relaunched by Michelin in December 2009 with 12 new titles, followed by a further 12 in Spring 2010. The Bookseller announced the launch in October 2009 with an interview with Michelin Commercial Director Ian Murray. Murray confirmed that the initial 12 titles would include I Spy Birds, Cars, Trees, On a Car Journey and On a Train Journey. The new I Spy titles are faithful to the original concept but are fully updated and include all new colour images. The relaunch of the books and subsequent multiple expansions of the title list suggested that their popularity is being enjoyed by a new generation of children.

Published from 1966 to 1972. Pricing was 1/ in 1966, 1/6 or 7.5p in 1970 71, 9p in 1971 72, 10p in 1972.

Published from 1973 to 1979. Pricing was 10p in 1973, 12p in 1973 74, 15p in 1974, 20p in 1976 77, 25p in 1977 78, 30p in 1977 79.

Published from 1980 to 1982. Pricing was 40p in 1982.

Published from 1983 to 1987. Price was 65p in 1983.