Peter Duck; Coot Club; Secret Water; The Big Six

London: Jonathan Cape , 1937-1951. Cloth. Good. 8" by 5.5". Not Stated. Four works from the popular children's adventure series, 'Swallows and Amazons'. Three works from the, 'Swallows and Amazons', series by Arthur Ransome, featuring the first edition of, 'Secret Water'. Each bound in the publisher's original cloth binding, with delightful illustrated paste-downs. This popular children's adventure series is set in the interwar period, and revolves around the exciting summer holiday adventures of a group of friends. The series portrays a range of outdoor pursuits, such as sailing, in the Lake District and Norfolk Broads, and was highly influential at encouraging young people into nature. This set comprises of: "Peter Duck", the eighth impression of the first edition, published in 1937. The third book in the series. With a frontispiece and twenty full-page illustrations. Collated complete. In this story, the Swallows and Amazons sail to Crab Island with Captain Flint and Peter Duck, an old sailor, to recover buried treasure. With a half title page. "Coot Club", the sixteenth impression of the first edition, published in 1951. The fifth book in the series. With a frontispiece, and twenty-one full-page illustrations. Collated complete. This book follows Dick and Dorothea Callum as they visit the Norfolk Broads during the Easter holidays, hoping to perfect their sailing skills in order to impress the Swallows and Amazons back home. "Secret Water", the first edition, first impression, published in 1939. The eighth book in the series. With a frontispiece and forty-one illustrations, both full-page and vignette. Collated complete. In this book, the Swallows and Amazons meet a new group called the 'Eels and the Mastodon'. The book is set around Hamford Water in Essex. With a half title page. "The Big Six", the ninth impression of the first edition, published in 1948. The ninth book in the series. With a frontispiece, and twenty-two full-page illustrations. Collated complete. This book follows Dick and Dorothea Callum as they attempt to solve a mystery with the Coot Club. The half title page is present. With the previous owner's ink signature to the reverse of the frontispiece. Bound in the publisher's original cloth. Externally, smart with some shelf wear to the extremities. Marks to the boards. Spine is darkened for, 'Peter Duck', and faded to, 'Coot Club'. Discoloration to the boards of, 'Coot Club', with a mark to the front board. Heavy bumping to the upper spine of, 'Secret Water', and, 'Peter Duck'. Front joint is starting and rear joint is strained in, 'Secret Water'. Rear joint is starting in, 'Peter Duck'. The rear hinge of, 'Peter Duck', is strained but still firm. Spotting to the paste-downs and free endpapers. Previous owner's ink inscriptions to the front free endpaper in, 'The Big Six'. Mark to the reverse of the front free endpaper in, 'Secret Water'. Internally, binding strained but still firm. Pages bright and clean with some age-toning to the edges. Light spotting towards the front and rear of, 'The Big Six', and the previous owner's ink signature to the reverse of the frontispiece. Light spotting throughout, 'Secret Water', with a mark to the front blank. Scattered handling marks throughout. Good