Seven Stories children's book museum, based in Newcastle, England, has recently acquired a number of rare original typescripts by celebrated English author Enid Blyton.  The manuscripts were put up for auction two weeks ago as part of the estate of Blyton's late daughter, Gillian Baverstock. Although Blyton had an extensive bibliography and a career that spanned over five decades, few of her original manuscripts have survived, a fact Seven Stories was aware of and jumped at the chance to preserve them.  The museum obtained nine original typescripts of Blyton's best known novels, including three from her Famous Five series and an undated, unpublished Famous Five Adventure A Play for Older Children in Three Acts.  Five Have Plenty of Fun, published in 1954, is accompanied by a handwritten note from Blyton which reads, "I do not write my books by hand but type them straight out of my head."  Seven Stories also acquired Last Term at Malory Towers, believed to be the only existing typescript for the Malory Towers series, complete with corrections and a signed forward. Along with these manuscripts, the museum also purchased several other books and stories by Blyton, typescripts for Look Out Secret Seven, a likely unpublished typescript for Mr. Tumpy's Caravan, and a box of the family's personal books.  The purchase was made possible through funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, and two private donations (one of them from Blyton's granddaughter, Sophie Smallwood). Seven Stories' chief executive Katie Edwards commented, "This archive was in danger of being lost to the nation and we are thrilled to be able to bring it to Seven Stories where it will play an important part in telling the story of modern children's literature."  The museum is now the largest public collector of Blyton material, and is planning an exhibit.

Rare Enid Blyton manuscripts acquired by Seven Stories museum