This is a starter guide to dating Ladybird books from the 1960’s and 1970’s, which shall be updated as I gather more information.
First edition’s (or near enough) can be clarified by the back covers as they will list all books up to the current book and no more. If there are other books after its title listed then it is a re-print.
To tell approximately what its year of print was simply cross reference the number of books listed so far in the series (back cover) with the sale price (back or inside) and Ladybird books tally (also back cover if included).
From 1969, Ladybird books had 2/6d 121/2p stamped on the back ready for decimalisation in 1971. Books with a black block on the back have been re-priced (usually from 15p to 18p). Bar codes were included from c.1984.
| Tally No | Date | Price | Date |
| 100 120 135 140 150 160 170 190 200 210 220 225 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 320 330 340 350 360 370 |
1963 1964/5 1965 1965 1966 1966 1966 1967 1967 1968 1968 1968 1969 1969 1969 1969 1970 1970 1971 1972 1973 1973 1973 1974 1974 1974 |
2,6d 2/6d 121/2p 15p 18p 24p 30p 40p 50p 60p 70p 75p 85p 90p 99p £1.20 £1.30 |
1965 – Feb 1969 Feb 1969 – May 1971 1 Jun 1971 – 30 Apr 1974 1 May 1974 – 15 Jun 1975 16 Jun 1975 – 10 Jan 1978 11 Jan 1978 – 24 Jun 1979 25 Jun 1979 – 31 Dec 1980 1 Jan 1981 – 30 Jun 1982 1 Jul 1982 – 31 Dec 1983 1 Jan 1984 – 31 Dec 1985 1 Jan 1985 – 31 Dec 1986 1 Jan 1987 – 31 Dec 1987 1 Jan 1988 – 31 Dec 1988 1 Jan 1989 – 31 Dec 1989 1 Jan 1990 – 31 Dec 1990 1 Jan 1991 – 31 Dec 1991 |
