How to find a rare book?

Search for specialist Childrens book shops (I know there are a few in Hay-on-Wye) and then call them up. If they don't have it and it's particularly well known they will very probably know who does.

BTW, what a lovely present!

Title of the book? ?

You never know someone on here could help.

Try to find it in the catalogue of e.g. the British Library (if it was published in Britain.) You'll have a better chance of finding it with all the details e.g. ISBN, and you could also contact the original publisher.

Thank you both. It means a lot to her and I would love to get it for her as a surprise.

BoBK I hadn't thought of mentioning the title! It's Puddledock Farm by Grace Lodge.

MM&I I'll search under that now ...

Thanks

Thanks Ms S. I've found out it was published in 1947 - eek that was a while ago!! I shall continue my search .....

Is Grace Lodge the author or the illustrator? (just there was an illustrator with the same name who worked with Enid Blyton).

Might be worth keeping an eye on the bay of e as well, looks like you just missed this one

http://cgi.e*bay.co.uk/PUDDLEDUCK-FARM-WRITTEN-AND-ILLUSTRATED-BY-GRACE-LODGE_W0QQitemZ290219946942QQihZ019QQcategoryZ1093QQcmdZViewItem

(You'll need to remove the * from the link)

Try www.abebooks.co.uk - the forums there are useful too

Oh CJJ I am so gutted I have just missed that one on e*bay! I think it's a pretty rare thing so I can't believe there was one so recently! Never mind, might mean there's another one coming on soon.

Viva - yes I think she illustrated EB's books too.

Thanks hazel - I'll check this out too.

Thanks again