Japhet and Happy's Annual 1940 Published by News Chronicle. Unblemished throughout, pictorial boards still very much bright. A near fine copy. 

In this spirited addition to the News Chronicle’s cherished series, J.F. Horrabin brings back the lovable Noah family for a final pre-war romp. Japhet, the cheeky instigator, and his ever-cheerful brother Happy, joined by sharp Selina, plodding tortoise Oswald, and lively pup Cracky, dive into a delightful array of escapades: a bumbling attempt at amateur detective work in a haunted manor, a chaotic balloon ride over patchwork fields, and a festive Christmas pageant gone hilariously awry. Brimming with over 160 pages of colorful illustrations, comic strips, puzzles, poems, and craft activities, Horrabin’s warm wit and expressive art capture the fading innocence of 1930s childhood, offering solace as Britain braces for wartime. The annual’s gentle humor and familial camaraderie shine against the era’s darkening horizon.

This volume is a treasure for collectors of British children’s ephemera, especially scarce News Chronicle first editions with vibrant pictorial boards showcasing Japhet and Happy in aeronautical antics. As one of the last pre-war annuals, it holds historical weight, reflecting Horrabin’s enduring Arkubs legacy amid rationing constraints. With few surviving copies due to wartime paper shortages and delicate bindings, it’s a coveted keepsake for fans of Rupert Bear-style nostalgia, embodying the bittersweet twilight of interwar juvenile joy.