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| The Girls' Crystal The Girls' Crystal was first published in October 1935 by the Amalgamated Press as the Crystal for issues 1-9, continuing as a story paper until the mid '50's when it was transformed into a comic. It usually had 4 or 5 varied stories rotating within which aimed at girls of various ages, one of the main attractions being the Merrymakers series by Daphne Grayson which ran for years. Another major attraction was the Noel Raymond series of detective stories written by "Peter Langley" (Ronald Fleming) which also ran for years albeit more sporadically. It was unusual on 3 points: first the lead character was a male in a girls paper full of girl heroines, secondly Fleming used a male pseudonym, almost unheard of in the girls papers, and thirdly - quite often the reader didn't know who the guilty party was until the very end! Over the years from 1935 the youthful and debonair Noel solved a large number of baffling cases - about 475 plus many reprints, from 1945 (after Fleming had returned from wartime RAF duty) he was nearly always helped/hindered by his young niece June Gaynor. The tales were usually very short - "longer" tales were introduced after WW2, were never heavy and often with wildly implausible plots, stereotypes galore but usually made for entertaining and pleasant reading. In the course of a story stifled sobs, hoarse cries and Noel's grim smile would be constantly mentioned - but anything less dramatic was not to be expected by the audience in Noel and June's world. There was never much room for pictures and all the artists used remained anonymous, but apart from the first and the last artists the pictures nicely complemented the stories. Fleming had plenty of other irons in the AP fire and wrote for it until at least 1963 totalling 38 years service, but sadly the Noel Raymond saga came to an end in story form in May 1951. The following table lists only the issues featuring Noel Raymond stories. You can view the front covers of a few other issues here. For the January 1994 Collectors' Digest Dennis Bird wrote an article providing some background to Ronald Fleming - you can read it here. A number of stories were reprinted in the Schoolgirls' Own Library and the Girls' Crystal Annual. Some issues also carried stories by Enid Boyten. This authors real name was Horace E. Boyten: In 1953 Enid Blyton’s solicitors wrote to R. T. Eves then editor of the Girls’ Crystal complaining of the similarity in names and suggesting the AP was cashing in on EB’s success. Eves strongly refuted the charge but wrote that HEB had reluctantly agreed not to use the nom de plume in future, but use “Hilda Boyten” instead. He apparently decided to use the name Helen Crawford from 1953 though. Thanks to Gary for the introduction and the list of issues based on the works of the late Dennis Bird. A few issues are now available for download. Scroll down the issue list to find them. |
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| Issue | Date | Noel Raymond - Girls' Crystal | Notes | SGOL |
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Issue 001 26/10/1935 |
The Menace Of The Green Dragon | ||
| 2 | 02/11/1935 | The Girl Who Dared Not Talk | ||
| 3 | 09/11/1935 | The Girl Who Laughed At Danger | ||
| 4 | 16/11/1935 | The Case Of The Girl Spy | ||
| 5 | 23/11/1935 | The Mystery Of The Menaced Girl Pilot | ||
| 6 | 30/11/1935 | The Case Of The Mystery Imposter | ||
| 7 | 07/12/1935 | Mystery Aboard The Night Express | ||
| 8 | 14/12/1935 | If That Dog Could Only Talk | ||
| 9 | 21/12/1935 | Mystery At The Yuletide Party | ||
| 10 | 28/12/1935 | The Mystery Of The Vanishing Girl Magician | ||
| 11 | 04/01/1936 | The Mystery Of The Waxwork Figure | ||
| 12 | 11/01/1936 | The Clue Of The High-Heeled Shoes | ||
| 13 | 18/01/1936 | The Mystery Violinist's Secret | ||
| 14 | 25/01/1936 | The Threatened Trapeze Artist | ||
| 15 | 01/02/1936 | The Clue Of The Crimson Cameo | ||
| 16 | 08/02/1936 | The Phantom Kidnapper | ||
| 17 | 15/02/1936 | The Zoo Animals That Vanished | ||
| 18 | 22/02/1936 | The Mystery Of The False Confessions | ||
| 19 | 29/02/1936 | The Clue Of The Marble Shepherdess | ||
| 20 | 07/03/1936 | The Secret Of The Dress Shop | ||
| 21 | 14/03/1936 | The Spectre Of The Well | ||
| 22 | 21/03/1936 | The Disappearing Schoolgirls | ||
| 23 | 28/03/1936 | The Menace Of The Phantom Bell | ||
| 24 | 04/04/1936 | The Peril Of The Chinese Snake | ||
| 25 | 11/04/1936 | The Mystery Of The Talking Statue | ||
| 26 | 18/04/1936 | Danger At The Fun Fair | ||
| 27 | 25/04/1936 | The Ring That Brought Fear | ||
| 28 | 02/05/1936 | The Plaster Pierrots That Vanished | ||
| 29 | 09/05/1936 | The Mystery Of The Dragon Grotto | ||
| 30 | 16/05/1936 | The Peril Of The Fourth Warning | ||
| 31 | 23/05/1936 | The Secret Of The Pirate's Galleon | ||
| 32 | 30/05/1936 | The Menaced Concert Party | ||
| 33 | 06/06/1936 | The Mystery Of The Unfinished Painting | ||
| 34 | 13/06/1936 | When The Golden Image Disappeared | ||
| 35 | 20/06/1936 | The Houseboat Of Fear | ||
| 36 | 27/06/1936 | The Bus Passenger Who Vanished | ||
| 37 | 04/07/1936 | The Mystery Of The Kennels | ||
| 38 | 11/07/1936 | The Clue Of The Grey Feather | ||
| 39 | 18/07/1936 | The Menace Of The Lighthouse | ||
| 40 | 25/07/1936 | The Mystery Of The Warrior Clock | ||
| 41 | 01/08/1936 | The Girl Who Scorned Noel's Help | ||
| 42 | 08/08/1936 | The Motor Coach Of Disaster | ||
| 43 | 15/08/1936 | The Terror Of The Lake | ||
| 44 | 22/08/1936 | The Hidden Enemy At The Art School | ||
| 45 | 29/08/1936 | The Menace Of The Mystery Advertisement | ||
| 46 | 05/09/1936 | Danger At The Film Studio | ||
| 47 | 12/09/1936 | The Warning She Would Not Heed | ||
| 48 | 19/09/1936 | The Peril Of The Pass | ||
| 49 | 26/09/1936 | The Secret Of The Ivory Chessmen | ||
| 50 | 03/10/1936 | The Bogus Detective | ||
| 51 | 10/10/1936 | The Warning Of The Scarlet Tie | ||
| 52 | 17/10/1936 | The Menace Of The Hooded Bell-Ringer | ||
| 53 | 24/10/1936 | Noel Raymond's Rival | ||
| 54 | 31/10/1936 | The Conjuring Trick That Brought Disaster! | ||
| 55 | 07/11/1936 | The Secret Of The Guy | ||
| 56 | 14/11/1936 | The Phantom Fiddler | 711 | |
| 57 | 21/11/1936 | The Grey Pearl Mystery | 711 | |
| 58 | 28/11/1936 | The Clue Of The Double Six | 711 | |
| 59 | 05/12/1936 | The Mystery Of The Buried Antlers | 711 | |
| 60 | 12/12/1936 | The Phantom Of The Locked Room | ||
| 61 | 19/12/1936 | Noel's Xmas Ghost Hunt | 711 | |
| 62 | 26/12/1936 | The Mystery Of The Missing Footprints | 711 | |
| 63 | 02/01/1937 | The Menace Of The Pantomime Cat | 711 | |
| 64 | 09/01/1937 | The Disappearances From Room 15 | 711 | |
| 65 | 16/01/1937 | The Phantom Knockers | ||
| 66 | 23/01/1937 | The Mystery Of The Threatened Bridesmaid | 711 | |
| 67 | 30/01/1937 | The Princess Noel Suspected | ||
| 68 | 06/02/1937 | The Clue Of The Green Perfume | ||
| 69 | 13/02/1937 | Noel's Amazing Birthday Gift | ||
| 70 | 20/02/1937 | The Kidnapped Film Star | ||
| 71 | 27/02/1937 | The Secret Of The Abbot's Walking Stick | ||
| 72 | 06/03/1937 | The Mystery Of Doom Island | ||
| 73 | 13/03/1937 | The Clue Of The Missing Ear-Rings | ||
| 74 | 20/03/1937 | The Secret Of The Wax Pirate | ||
| 75 | 27/03/1937 | The Clue Of The Easter Egg | ||
| 76 | 03/04/1937 | The Mystery Girl From America | ||
| 77 | 10/04/1937 | The Menace Of The Leopard Man | ||
| 78 | 17/04/1937 | Danger At The Theatre | ||
| 79 | 24/04/1937 | The Mystery Of The Spider's Web | ||
| 80 | 01/05/1937 | The Secret Of The Disappearing Shoes | ||
| 81 | 08/05/1937 | The Flowers That Meant Danger | ||
| 82 | 15/05/1937 | The Clue Of The Coronation Brooch | ||
| 83 | 22/05/1937 | The Mystery Of The Aquarium | ||
| 84 | 29/05/1937 | She Vanished From The Maze | ||
| 85 | 05/06/1937 | The Spectre Of The Galleon | ||
| 86 | 12/06/1937 | The Menace Of The Phantom Fingerprints | ||
| 87 | 19/06/1937 | The Mystery Of The Crouching Leopard | ||
| 88 | 26/06/1937 | The Frightened Girl On The 3.15 | ||
| 89 | 03/07/1937 | The Warning Of The Fortune-Teller's Crystal | ||
| 90 | 10/07/1937 | Rosina The Baffling | 731 | |
| 91 | 17/07/1937 | The Spectre Of Doom Castle | ||
| 92 | 24/07/1937 | Noel's Quest On The Luxury Liner | ||
| 93 | 31/07/1937 | The Girl Of Many Disguises | 731 | |
| 94 | 07/08/1937 | The Motor Boat Girl Who Vanished | ||
| 95 | 14/08/1937 | The Clue Of The Bronze Badge | ||
| 96 | 21/08/1937 | The Tower Of Strange Happenings | ||
| 97 | 28/08/1937 | Rosina The Treasure Hunter | ||
| 98 | 04/09/1937 | The Threatened Girl Record-Breaker | ||
| 99 | 11/09/1937 | The Photograph That Asked For Help | ||
| 100 | 18/09/1937 | The Shadow Over The Holiday Camp | ||
| 101 | 25/09/1937 | The Shadow Of The Pink Rose | ||
| 102 | 02/10/1937 | Noel's Fourth-Form Assistant | ||
| 103 | 09/10/1937 | When Rosina Nearly Triumphed | ||
| 104 | 16/10/1937 | The Mystery Of Hollyhock Cottage | ||
| 105 | 23/10/1937 | The Sign Of The Black Diamond | ||
| 106 | 30/10/1937 | The Menace Of The Hockey Field | ||
| 107 | 06/11/1937 | The Mystery Of The Empty Parcel | ||
| 108 | 13/11/1937 | The Laughing Cavalier | ||
| 109 | 20/11/1937 | The Clue Of The Stuffed Parrot | ||
| 110 | 27/11/1937 | Noel The Ringmaster | ||
| 111 | 04/12/1937 | The Vanished Statuettes | ||
| 112 | 11/12/1937 | The Case Of The Stolen Spectacles | ||
| 113 | 18/12/1937 | The Nodding Chinaman | ||
| 114 | 25/12/1937 | The Uninvited Father Christmas | ||
| 115 | 01/01/1938 | The Forbidden Carnival Costume | ||
| 116 | 08/01/1938 | The Spectre In Armour | ||
| 117 | 15/01/1938 | The Speed Girl Who Puzzled Noel | ||
| 118 | 22/01/1938 | The Fountain No One Must See! | ||
| 119 | 29/01/1938 | The Mystery Dog Noel Guarded | ||
| 120 | 05/02/1938 | The Letter They Could Not Post! | ||
| 121 | 12/02/1938 | That Mysterious Mr. Wilkins | ||
| 122 | 19/02/1938 | The Puzzle Of The Musical Box | ||
| 123 | 26/02/1938 | The Mystery Of The Runaway Girl | ||
| 124 | 05/03/1938 | The Menace Of The Museum | ||
| 125 | 12/03/1938 | That Strange Channel Crossing | ||
| 126 | 19/03/1938 | The Black Pearl Mystery | ||
| 127 | 26/03/1938 | The Girl Without A Memory | ||
| 128 | 02/04/1938 | The Puzzle Of The Empty House | ||
| 129 | 09/04/1938 | The Invisible Enemy | ||
| 130 | 16/04/1938 | The Rock With The Glowing Eyes | ||
| 131 | 23/04/1938 | The Jape That Led To Disaster | ||
| 132 | 30/04/1938 | Rosina's Mid-Air Triumph | 731 | |
| 133 | 07/05/1938 | The Holiday Camp Of Strange Happenings | ||
| 134 | 14/05/1938 | The Frightened Chinese Girl | ||
| 135 | 21/05/1938 | June's First Case | ||
| 136 | 28/05/1938 | The Four-Leaved Clover Meant Danger | ||
| 137 | 04/06/1938 | The Girl Who Kept Silent | ||
| 138 | 11/06/1938 | The Menace Of St. Chad's | ||
| 139 | 18/06/1938 | The Torn Cryptogram | ||
| 140 | 25/06/1938 | The Waxwork That Came To Life | ||
| 141 | 02/07/1938 | The Girl Nobody Wanted | ||
| 142 | 09/07/1938 | Rosina's Amazing Imposture | 731 | |
| 143 | 16/07/1938 | The Message On The Tennis Ball | ||
| 144 | 23/07/1938 | The Rajah's Emeralds | ||
| 145 | 30/07/1938 | She Laughed At Noel's Warning | ||
| 146 | 06/08/1938 | Was The Chimp The Mystery Thief? | ||
| 147 | 13/08/1938 | Rosina's Daring Return | 731 | |
| 148 | 20/08/1938 | The Secret Of The Snapshot | ||
| 149 | 27/08/1938 | The Mystery Climber | ||
| 150 | 03/09/1938 | The Prize That Puzzled June | ||
| 151 | 10/09/1938 | The Menace At Grey Gables | ||
| 152 | 17/09/1938 | The Puzzle Of The Pageant | ||
| 153 | 24/09/1938 | The Clue Of The Lucky Charm | ||
| 154 | 01/10/1938 | Tower Of Mystery | ||
| 155 | 08/10/1938 | The Marble Huntsman | ||
| 156 | 15/10/1938 | The Message In The Lotus Flower | ||
| 157 | 22/10/1938 | The Torn Treasure Chart | ||
| 158 | 29/10/1938 | The Grey Parrot Mystery | ||
| 159 | 05/11/1938 | June And The Monkey's Warning | ||
| 160 | 12/11/1938 | The Vanished Girl Secretary | ||
| 161 | 19/11/1938 | Rosina On The Isle Of Treasure | 731 | |
| 162 | 26/11/1938 | The Mystery Of The Red Diamonds | ||
| 163 | 03/12/1938 | The Ghostly Bells Of Blackmoor | ||
| 164 | 10/12/1938 | Noel's Amazing Double | ||
| 165 | 17/12/1938 | June's Adventures In Fairy Cave | ||
| 166 | 24/12/1938 | Noel's Christmas Conjuring Trick | ||
| 167 | 31/12/1938 | The Mystery Of Aladdin's Lamp | ||
| 168 | 07/01/1939 | Peril At The New Year Ball | ||
| 169 | 14/01/1939 | Rosina The Elusive | 731 | |
| 170 | 21/01/1939 | Mystery On The Night Express | ||
| 171 | 28/01/1939 | The Clue Of The Pink Shells | ||
| 172 | 04/02/1939 | The Golden Fingerprint | ||
| 173 | 11/02/1939 | Mystery At The Snowbound House | ||
| 174 | 18/02/1939 | The Elephant That Vanished | ||
| 175 | 25/02/1939 | The Secret Of Cabin 13 | ||
| 176 | 04/03/1939 | The Masked Gondolier | ||
| 177 | 11/03/1939 | June's Venetian Ring | ||
| 178 | 18/03/1939 | The Moonlight Skater | ||
| 179 | 25/03/1939 | The House Of Vanishing Treasures | ||
| 180 | 01/04/1939 | Rosina The Film Star | 731 | |
| 181 | 08/04/1939 | The Phantom Of The Bay | ||
| 182 | 15/04/1939 | The Clue Of The Easter Eggs | ||
| 183 | 22/04/1939 | The Puzzle Of The Paper Chase | ||
| 184 | 29/04/1939 | Peril At The Tower Of London | ||
| 185 | 06/05/1939 | The Invisible Archer | ||
| 186 | 13/05/1939 | The Trail Of False Clues | ||
| 187 | 20/05/1939 | The Forbidden Broadcast | ||
| 188 | 27/05/1939 | Mystery At The Swimming Pool | ||
| 189 | 03/06/1939 | The Rival Fortune-Tellers | ||
| 190 | 10/06/1939 | The Clue Of The Smoke Signals | ||
| 191 | 17/06/1939 | The False Confessions | ||
| 192 | 24/06/1939 | Rosina's Surprising Birthday Gift | 731 | |
| 193 | 01/07/1939 | Mr. Merlin The Mysterious | ||
| 194 | 08/07/1939 | The Spectre Of The Glen | ||
| 195 | 15/07/1939 | The Frightened Speed Girl | ||
| 196 | 22/07/1939 | The Tune Of Mystery | ||
| 197 | 29/07/1939 | The Secret Of The Bell Tower | ||
| 198 | 05/08/1939 | The Girl June Didn't Suspect | 51 | |
| 199 | 12/08/1939 | Rosina's Secret Helper | 51 | |
| 200 | 19/08/1939 | June's Amazing Deception | 51 | |
| 201 | 26/08/1939 | Rosina And The Mystery Casket | 51 | |
| 202 | 02/09/1939 | June's Message In Code | 51 | |
| 203 | 09/09/1939 | Mystery Of The Pageant | 51 | |
| 204 | 16/09/1939 | The Puzzle Of The Stolen Idol | 51 | |
| 205 | 23/09/1939 | June Meets Her Double | 51 | |
| 206 | 30/09/1939 | She Meant June To Be Blamed | 51 | |
| 207 | 07/10/1939 | The Phantom Hound Of Bleakmoor | ||
| 208 | 14/10/1939 | The Castle Of Strange Happenings | ||
| 209 | 21/10/1939 | The Room Of Disappearing Curios | ||
| 210 | 28/10/1939 | Mystery At The Skating Gala | ||
| 211 | 04/11/1939 | The Problem Of The Birthday Gift | ||
| 212 | 11/11/1939 | The Menace Of The Scarlet Cloak | ||
| 213 | 18/11/1939 | The Girl Who Wouldn't Be Guarded | ||
| 214 | 25/11/1939 | The Mystery Of The Missing Waxwork | ||
| 215 | 02/12/1939 | The Baffling Miss Barrington | ||
| 216 | 09/12/1939 | The Dress That Brought Disaster | ||
| 217 | 16/12/1939 | The Secret Of The Playing Cards | ||
| 218 | 23/12/1939 | Noel's Christmas Mystery | ||
| 219 | 30/12/1939 | The Warning In Cinderella's Slipper | ||
| 220 | 06/01/1940 | The Clue Of The Model Galleon | ||
| 221 | 13/01/1940 | June's Shopping Mystery | ||
| 222 | 20/01/1940 | The Puzzle Of The Warning Messages | ||
| 223 | 27/01/1940 | The Vanishing Knights | ||
| 224 | 03/02/1940 | The Spectre Of The Lighthouse | ||
| 225 | 10/02/1940 | The Threat To The Dancing Star | ||
| 226 | 17/02/1940 | Mystery At The Art School | ||
| 227 | 24/02/1940 | Noel's Four-Footed Assistant | ||
| 228 | 02/03/1940 | The Clue Of The Speckled Feather | ||
| 229 | 09/03/1940 | The Phantom Monk | ||
| 230 | 16/03/1940 | The Girl Who Fooled Them All | ||
| 231 | 23/03/1940 | The Clue Of The Dragon Brooch | ||
| 232 | 30/03/1940 | The Mystery Of The Empty House | ||
| 233 | 06/04/1940 | The Girl Mimic's Amazing Task | ||
| 234 | 13/04/1940 | She Said She Was Rosina's Double | ||
| 235 | 20/04/1940 | The Secret Of The Chimes | ||
| 236 | 27/04/1940 | The Mystery Of The Model Speedboat | ||
| 237 | 04/05/1940 | The Phantom Voice | ||
| 238 | 11/05/1940 | The Pool Of Strange Reflections | ||
| 239 | 18/05/1940 | The Elusive Silver Pierrette | ||
| 240 | 25/05/1940 | Danger At The Riding Stables | ||
| 241 | 01/06/1940 | The Secret Of The Picnic Hampers | ||
| 242 | 08/06/1940 | The Clue Of The Rare Carnations | ||
| 243 | 15/06/1940 | They All Believed Rosina | ||
| 244 | 22/06/1940 | The Haunted Museum | ||
| 245 | 29/06/1940 | The Phantom Highwayman | ||
| 246 | 06/07/1940 | The Secret Of The Golden Orchid | ||
| 247 | 13/07/1940 | The Vanished Girl Cyclist | ||
| 248 | 20/07/1940 | The Secret Of The Abbey Ruins | ||
| 249 | 27/07/1940 | The Spectre Of The Lake | ||
| 250 | 03/08/1940 | The Strange Thefts At The Tennis Club | ||
| 251 | 10/08/1940 | June's Riverside Treasure Hunt | ||
| 252 | 17/08/1940 | The Room Of A Hundred Idols | ||
| 253 | 24/08/1940 | Rosina Deceived Them All | ||
| 254 | 31/08/1940 | The Masquerade Of Mystery | ||
| 255 | 07/09/1940 | The Mystery Of Pirate Isle | ||
| 256 | 14/09/1940 | The Secret Of The Cuckoo Clock | ||
| 257 | 21/09/1940 | The Lucky Charms That Vanished | ||
| 258 | 28/09/1940 | The Phantom Of The Picture Gallery | ||
| 259 | 05/10/1940 | The House Of Strange Surprises | ||
| 260 | 12/10/1940 | Was Rosina The Mystery Spy? | ||
| 261 | 19/10/1940 | Mystery In Toy Town | ||
| 262 | 26/10/1940 | The Ghostly Hounds | ||
| 263 | 02/11/1940 | The Conjuring Trick That Brought Disaster | ||
| 264 | 09/11/1940 | The Clue Of The Cavalier's Cloak | ||
| 265 | 16/11/1940 | The Mystery Of The Mandarin's Chessmen | ||
| 266 | 23/11/1940 | Peril To The Robin Hood Players | ||
| 267 | 30/11/1940 | The Secret Of Study 13 | ||
| 268 | 07/12/1940 | When Rosina Asked For Noel's Aid | ||
| 269 | 14/12/1940 | The Mystery Of The Crinoline Costumes | ||
| 270 | 21/12/1940 | Noel's Yuletide Mystery | ||
| 271 | 28/12/1940 | The Hotel Of Baffling Thefts | ||
| 272 | 04/01/1941 | The Secret Of The Seven Lamps | ||
| 273 | 11/01/1941 | The Mystery Of The Toby Jugs | ||
| 274 | 18/01/1941 | Rosina's Perfect Alibi | ||
| 275 | 25/01/1941 | June's Eventful Birthday Party | ||
| 276 | 01/02/1941 | Mystery In The Toy Store | ||
| 277 | 08/02/1941 | The Castle Of Strange Happenings | ||
| 278 | 15/02/1941 | The Threat To Their Costume Play | ||
| 279 | 22/02/1941 | The Seven Unlucky Omens | ||
| 280 | 01/03/1941 | Danger At The Haunted Crossroads | ||
| 281 | 08/03/1941 | Rosina - The Detective | ||
| 282 | 15/03/1941 | The Mystery Of The Ghost Ship | ||
| 283 | 22/03/1941 | June's Strangest Task | ||
| 284 | 29/03/1941 | The Post-Girl They Suspected | ||
| 285 | 05/04/1941 | Mystery At The Music Hall | ||
| 286 | 12/04/1941 | The Secret Of The Locked Room | ||
| 287 | 19/04/1941 | The Grotto Of Vanishing Treasures | ||
| 288 | 26/04/1941 |