Bunting out for Bunty.

[Kashgar]

Next week sees the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of the first issue of D C Thomson's most famous, and longest lived, girl's picture paper 'Bunty'. First published on 18th Jan 1958 it clocked up a record breaking run of 2249 weekly issues before its demise on 17th Feb 2001. (Not counting the slight expansion of the franchise with 5 issues of an expanded 'Best of' title which followed in Mar -July 2001).
As well as it's success as a weekly paper it also spawned the mandatory 'Bunty Book' which has appeared every year since 1960, and is now only one short of its fiftieth edition, while also being the first title published by D C Thomson to be given it's own Summer Special in 1963 the same year that also saw the launch of the digest-sized Bunty Picture Library which ran to 455 editions published between 1963 and 1997.
And what of 'Bunty' in those very early days? What did a young schoolgirl get for her 4d (2p) on that cold January morning fifty years ago?
She got a 28pg picture paper complete with a free 'Ladybird Ring' and a pass into the world of what would become, arguably, the most iconic of all girl's picture paper titles.
Bunty was edited from the first by a mainstay from the Thomson boy's papers Harold Moon who, despite being blinded in one eye during WWII, had a talent for employing artists whose style perfectly suited the telling of the stories in hand.
And what of those artists and the stories they had to tell?
First off we had the cover art provided by Doris Kinnear followed by -
Pocahantas - Red Indian Princess. Artwork by Bowyer.
The Four Marys - perhaps the best loved of all girls comic strips with artwork supplied, in the very early days, by Bill Holroyd.
Uncle Tom's Cabin - an adaptation of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel. Artwork by Paddy Brennan.
The Girl of the Islands - a baby girl is washed ashore on a Pacific island and is raised for ten years by the island's tribal queen. Artwork by James 'Peem' Walker.
Toots - a comic strip drawn by Bill Ritchie.
Lyn Raymond - Air Stewardess - a text story about a girl who has 'the tip-toppest job of all'. Spot art supplied by Ron Forbes.
Bimbo and her Baby - a French reprint of a strip in which a seventeen year old girl, newly ensconced in a Paris apartment, finds a baby in the park and decides to take care of it on her own.
The Dancing Life of Moira Kent - Moira begins her long climb to fame as a ballerina. Artwork by Ron Smith.
Parachute Nurse - an expert woman parachutist takes on the job of nursing assistant at an isolated Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost. Artwork by Ron Forbes.
Orphan of the Circus - another French reprint about how an unscrupulous circus owner manipulates the career of the daughter of his dead high-wire star.
Kay of the 5 Horse-Shoes - another text story. This time about a girl who starts work as a stablehand at a famous riding school. Spot art by Jimmy Crighton.
Molly in Lonely Wood - A wheelchair bound 11 year old helps a noted naturalist to prepare a book about the animals that live in a wood near to her home. Artwork by Ken Hunter.
Badges of Girls Schools - a rear cover reader participation page.
'Happy Birthday Bunty old gel!'

[steelclaw]

Apart from Misty Bunty is my favourite girls comic I never bought, untill I picked up bundle at a carboot sale last year.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

What I remember most about 'BUNTY' was the cut-out dolls with clothing accessories on the back page------'TWINKLE' the little girl's comic also gave away free gifts of more substantial, cardboard cut-out dolls.

----I definately remember the blonde 'BUNTY' cover character, and other girl's stories that stick in my mind are: 'BOBBY DAZZLER' [possibly 'JUDY'] and, especially, the mystical fantasy from ' MANDY': 'VALDA'.

[Earl]

Love Bunty. Picked a few up back in 1980 and inherited some early 70's annuals via an older cousin when I was a kid.
I did manage to get some of the last monthly issues just before the title folded.

Would love more of the weeklies but they are not that cheap.

Earl.