Between the 1950s and 1970s, the BeaverDime Books were issued at least 5 times. Each time, the format of the book -- its size, page length, colour -- remained consistent. However, with each printing little tweaks were made to the copyright information, the logo, or series name. These tweaks give some insight into the evolving nature of this enterprise.
The six initial BeaverDime titles were published in 1953. They were illustrated by Milada Horejs and Karel Rohelchk. The logo is a small beaver inside a coin with the 10 cent printed above it. Copyright information (year, publisher, name of illustrator) appears on the inside cover. The back cover is plain.
The next printing occurred sometime in the 1950s. By that time, the series had increased to 18 titles and each one is numbered.. All the available titles are now printed on the back along with the copyright information at the bottom. No date is provided and illustrators are unidentified. The logo looks the same and is in the same location, but it has been enlarged. The brand feels more firmly established.
In 1965 and 66, BeaverDimes were published again and The series was expanded. Twelve new titles were added -- six fairy tales by Grimm and six more by Hans Christian Anderson -- making 30 BeaverDime books in total. The new titles have a different illustrator. By this time, nos. 7-12 are no long available. We have no idea why. The list on the back skips from #6 to #13.
Another printing, although the copyright still says 1965. But this time there is a change to the name and logo. The series becomes a Beaver Book. Obviously, they could no longer sell them for a dime.
Yet another printing and another small tweak. The logo now reads to A Beaver Book for Young
Canadians. The beaver changes too and some maple leafs are added. The lasting printing is in 1975. This time, the name is changed again to a Brunswick Book for Young Canadians.
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I find all these little changes interesting as they give insight into how the series changed over time. There are the practical changes -- the need to promote the brand and change the name when the price can no long be a dime. But these changes also point to different ideas about who are the readers of these books. Initially, the names are quite broad. The reader of a Beaverdime book could be any child. But eventually it becomes a book for Young Canadians. And by the end, it's identifying itself as a book for Canadians from New Brunswick. Both the books' identity and its readership narrows over time.
