About
Geoffrey Whittam (born 1916, date of death uncertain but probably 1998) is an iconic figure in pony book illustration. He illustrated over 50 pony books, as well as providing illustrations for short stories and annuals. Whittam was responsible for illustrating one of the longest British pony book series, Judith M Berrisford’s Jackie series, as well as titles for Sheila Chapman, Catherine Harris, and one for Primrose Cumming, who seems to have used just about every pony book illustrator existing. He is probably best known for illustrating many of Monica Edwards’ stories. Although the stories he illustrated for her aren’t really pony books (Anne Bullen did her early titles, which could be classified as pony stories) there is an element of pony content to most of the books, and Monica Edwards is such a wonderful writer she is included in most pony book fans’ collections.
Geoffrey Whittam was Monica Edwards’ favourite illustrator, and often visited her and her family at Punchbowl Farm. As a boy, he loved to draw, and he started art studies at the Southampton School of Art. He did a variety of jobs before the war, during which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), and then, with his gratuity and a Government grant, he studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts for two years. He spent the year after emerging from the School trying to get work, and managed to get a drawing published in The Radio Times.
Whittam has never been my choice of favourite illustrator; he is at his best when drawing children and landscape, when he is very good indeed, but his horses and ponies are sometimes awkward, with oddly foreshortened necks and inaccurate legs. They are amazingly distinctive. A Whittam pony will always have a thick thatch of mane (imagine trying to groom that without recourse to the dandy brush); be on the stocky side, and have an immensely wide forehead.
Finding the books
The majority of the Jackie books are reasonably easy to find; the Sheila Chapman titles are tricky, and many of the Monica Edwards titles will be expensive as hardbacks with dustjackets. As paperbacks they can be more reasonable.
Sources and links
Brian Parks: The Monica Edwards Romney Marsh Companion, Girls Gone By, 2006
Brian Parks: Monica Edwards – The Authorised Biography, Girls Gone By, 2010
Bibliography
PONY BOOKS ILLUSTRATED BY GEOFFREY WHITTAM
Primrose Cumming: Trouble at Trimbles
Country Life, 1949
Rosemary Griffin: The Ponies Camped Too
Blackie, 1950
Monica Edwards: Black Hunting Whip
Collins, 1950
Monica Edwards: The White Riders
Collins, 1950
Monica Edwards: Cargo of Horses
Collins, 1951
Monica Edwards: Hidden in a Dream
Collins, 1952
Monica Edwards: Storm Ahead
Collins, 1953
Monica Edwards: No Entry
Collins, 1954
Judith M Berrisford: The Ponies Next Door
University of London Press, 1954
Margaret Stanley Wrench – How Much for a Pony?
Lutterworth Press, 1955
Monica Edwards: The Nightbird
Collins, 1955
Josephine Pullein-Thompson: Patrick’s Pony
Brockhampton Press, 1956
Monica Edwards: Frenchman’s Secret
Collins, 1956
Peggy Cannam: Triple Bar
Lutterworth Press, 1956
Catherine Harris: They Rescued a Pony
Blackie, 1956
Judith M Berrisford: Ponies All Summer
University of London Press, 1956
Judith M Berrisford: Pony Forest Adventure
University of London Press, 1957
Monica Edwards: Operation Seabird
Collins, 1957
Monica Edwards: Strangers to the Marsh
Collins, 1957
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie Won a Pony
Hodder & Stoughton, 1958
Catherine Harris: The Ponies of Cuckoo Mill Farm
Blackie, 1958
Monica Edwards: The Cownappers
Collins, 1958
Judith M Berrisford: Ten Ponies and Jackie
Brockhampton Press, 1959
Sheila Chapman: A Pony and His Partner
Burke, 1959
Sheila Chapman: Pony from Fire
Burke, 1960
Monica Edwards: No Going Back
Collins, 1960
Monica Edwards: Wish for a Pony
Children’s Press, 1960s, cover only
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie’s Pony Patrol
Brockhampton Press, 1961
Monica Edwards: The Outsider
Collins, 1961
Monica Edwards: The Hoodwinkers
Collins, 1962
Monica Edwards: Dolphin Summer
Collins, 1963
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie and the Pony Trekkers
Brockhampton Pres, 1963
Patricia Leitch: Highland Pony Trek
Collins Seagull, 1964
Denise Hill: A Pony for Two
Collins Seagull, 1965 (cover only as far as I know)
Monica Edwards: Fire in the Punchbowl
Collins, 1965
Frances Murray: Ponies on the Heather
Collins Seagull, 1966 (cover only)
Denise Hill: Coco the Gift Horse
Collins Seagull, 1966
Monica Edwards: The Wild One
Collins, 1967
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie’s Pony Camp Summer
Brockhampton Press, 1968
Elinore Havers: The Surprise Riding Club
Collins Seagull, 1968, (cover only)
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie’s Show-jumping Surprise
Brockhampton Press, 1973
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie and the Pony Boys
Brockhampton Press, 1970
Christine Pullein-Thompson: Ride by Night
Collins Pony Library, 1974 (cover only)
Diana Pullein-Thompson: Three Ponies and Shannan
Collins Pony Library, 1974 (cover only)
Patricia Leitch: Pony Surprise
Collins Pony Library, 1974
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie and the Misfit Pony
Brockhampton Press, 1975
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie on Pony Island
Brockhampton Press, 1977
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie and the Moonlight Pony
Brockhampton Press, 1977
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie and the Pony Thieves
Brockhampton Press, 1978
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie and the Phantom Ponies
Brockhampton Press, 1979
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie and the Pony Rivals
Brockhampton Press, 1981
Judith M Berrisford:: Jackie and the Missing Showjumper
Brockhampton Press, 1982
Judith M Berrisford: Change Ponies Jackie!
Brockhampton Press, 1983
Judith M Berrisford: Jackie’s Steeplechase Adventure
Brockhampton Press
