About
The original illustrations for the first Hodder and Stoughton printings of the Jill books were done by Caney, about whom information is extremely difficult to find. In some British Library records, Caney’s initials are given as C E, and the R M Ballantyne record gives the name as Clifford, so I am assuming this is the same Caney. If so, a Clifford Edward Caney was born in Croydon in 1904, and lived in London.
Most of Caney’s work was done for Hodder & Stoughton, so it’s possible that he worked as a studio illustrator for Hodder. As some of his work was for Christian publishers and authors, it is possible that the illustrator had some sort of faith; but again this is supposition.
Caney also illustrated some other horsey books (or at least, did covers for them): two by Patience McElwee for Hodder, as well as Judith M Berrisford’s Timber, the Story of a Horse, Tschiffely’s The Tale of Two Horses, and two of Tschiffely’s other works.
The list below of books illustrated by, or with covers by, Caney is not definitive. The Patience McElwee ones are not credited but it’s such a distinctive style it’s either by Caney or an excellent imitator.
What I do now know (thanks to Sue Morris) is that Caney was a prolific illustrator of girls’ papers. Fleetway Publications used him to produce covers (and some internal illustrations) for Princess Picture Library editions, and School Friend Picture Books during the 1960s.
Thanks are also due to Birte Scheel for providing many of the extra pictures.
If you know of more books to add to the list, please let me know. More importantly, if you have any biographical or other information about Caney, please let me know.
Bibliography
Books illustrated by (or with covers by) Caney
Tschiffely: Ming and Ping
(Hodder, 1948)
Ruby Ferguson: Jill’s Gymkhana
(Hodder & Stoughton, 1949)
Judith M Berrisford: Timber
(Univ of London, 1950)
Ruby Ferguson: A Stable for Jill
(Hodder & Stoughton, 1951)
Ruby Ferguson: Jill Has Two Ponies
(Hodder & Stoughton, 1953)
Ruby Ferguson: Jill Enjoys Her Ponies
(Hodder & Stoughton, 1954)
Tschiffely: Tschiffely’s Ride
(Univ of London, 1954)
Ruby Ferguson: Jill’s Riding Club
(Hodder & Stoughton, 1956)
Ruby Ferguson: Rosettes for Jill
(Hodder & Stoughton, 1957)
Ruby Ferguson: Jill and the Perfect Pony
(Hodder & Stoughton, 1959)
Ruby Ferguson: Pony Jobs for Jill
(Hodder & Stoughton, 1960)
Ruby Ferguson: Jill’s Pony Trek
(Hodder & Stoughton, 1962)
Other children’s books
Elizabeth Ashley: Seven Tiny Stories about Jesus
(Dean, 1963)
Elizabeth Ashley: Day by Day Stories About Jesus
(Dean, 1967, republished 1980)
R M Ballantyne: Silver Lake
(Clifford Lewis, 1949)
G H de Conte: The Mystery of Hollow Farm (Brockhampton, 1950)
Henry Dorling: Cypher K
(Brockhampton, 1950)
Ruby Ferguson: A Paintbox for Pauline
(H&S 1953)
Arthur Groom: Dean’s Gold Medal Stories about Jesus (1962)
Arthur Groom: My Second Picture Book about Jesus (Dean 1960)
Gaye Knowles: The Islanders’ Strange Holiday
(Brockhampton, 1950)
Collie Knox: Radio
(Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd, London)
Bessie Marchant: Di, the Dauntless
(Blackie & Sons Ltd)
Agnes Miall: Barbed Wire, Keep Out (Brockhampton 1950, reprinted White Lion, 1974)
Agnes Miall: The Vanishing Trick (Brockhampton, 1951)
Grace Richmond: Red Pepper Burns (Brockhampton, 1950)
Daniel Roberts: Calixte
C Bernard Rutley: Diana of the Range
Blackie, 1941
Sapper (H C McNeile): Bulldog Drummond (Brockhampton Press, 1950)
J M Scott: Snowstone
Brockhampton Press, 1951
Taffrail (Taprell Dorling): Cypher K (Brockhampton, 1950)
Taffrail (Taprell Dorling): The Jade Lizard (Hodder & Stoughton, 1951)
Virginia Williams-Ellis: Day by Day Stories About Jesus
(Dean, 1980)
Magazines
Caney worked for several magazines, including:
- Wide World Magazine (1929 and onwards)
- Princess Magazine and Picture Library
- School Friend
