Anyone who has read this blog before, or who follows me on Instagram, will know just how much I love vintage children’s books. As well as collecting Ladybird books I’m also rather fond of old Topsy and Tim books. When I was a child I recall the small soft-back format that was published by Blackie and these are the ones that I look out for in charity shops and at car boot sales, although they are very hard to come by these days.
Before these smaller format ones, Blackie actually published larger versions of the same books. With so many Topsy and Tim editions over the years I’ve always struggled to find a complete lists of titles and that’s why about four years ago I attempted to compile my own list here on the blog. I also then looked at two different versions of Topsy and Tim at the zoo and highlighted some of the differences between them.
Since then though I’ve managed to acquire more books and looking at the lists of titles on the back of them I’m no longer convinced that my original list was complete. One book that really grabbed my attention was an old (large format Blackie) version of Topsy and Tim Visit the Doctor. Now there’s a modern version of this called Topsy and Tim Go to the Doctor (why change the title?) and the basic storyline is the same, but there’s one rather large omission. Topsy and Tim’s sister Tansy.
What’s that I hear you say? Topsy and Tim don’t have a sister? Well, I’ve got even more of a surprise for you. Tansy also happens to be black.
Now, I have to admit that I have no recollection of Tansy at all from reading Topsy and Tim as a child, but a bit of searching online does find people who remember her, but very little evidence of quite who she is or where she came from. It is believed that Tansy was adopted, which would explain why her skin is a different colour from her older brother and sister. However, it being the internet there are also some people putting about the theory that Topsy and Tim’s mum had an affair of which Tansy was the product. Well you never know I guess…
What I have managed to find online is someone writing about another book in the series (which is listed on the back cover of Topsy and Tim Visit the Doctor) called Topsy and Tim’s New Brother. The description of this book reads as follows: “After having previously adopted Tansy (much to Tim’s disappointment – he didn’t want another girl in the house!), Topsy and Tim’s parents decide to adopt a baby brother – a Southeast Asian boy they call Teddy.”
It appears that at some point Tansy (and Teddy) mysteriously vanish. I certainly don’t remember them from the smaller format books of my childhood and they’re definitely not in the books I’ve picked upon charity shops for my kids. So where do they go? And why? Does anyone know?
Much as with Topsy and Tim go to the Zoo, and Topsy and Tim Learn to Swim (which I looked at here), there are other changes in the Topsy and Tim stories to take account of general changes that have happened since they were first published. The main one in this book is when Topsy and Tim have their scarves over their noses and then Topsy announced that they are “bad cowboys, going to rob a bank”. Tansy then joins in by saying “bang, bang!” and the illustration makes it look like Topsy is holding up her fingers in the shape of a gun. Today’s version has Tim still wearing his scarf over his mouth, but the robbing a bank game is no longer there.
I must have spent hours online looking to try and find out if anyone has really looked at the evolution of Topsy and Tim books, but I’ve come up with very little. I’m sure that somewhere there must be some records or something about the changes that have been made and why, but they certainly don’t seem to have been made public at all. I see plenty of people arriving here having searched for various Topsy and Tim related subjects suggesting that people are interested in some of the old books, but I’m damned if I know all the answers to what they want to know!
I’ve got quite a few Topsy + Tim books from my 1970s childhood, about 6 of which are the larger blackie style (the Sunday book is very non-pc!). In addition to the doctor one you show, Tansy is also in the T+T visit the dentist book. I can email you some pics if you don’t have that one? One of the authors is still alive and lives near me. She opened the local playground and often does signings at our local toyshop (Histon Lighthouse) – why not try to interview her? Maybe the shop owner could put you in touch? Worth a try…
Ooooh – I’d love any photos you have of books Charlotte please – especially if you’re happy for me to share the pictures on my blog for others to see. penny@beingmrsc.com
And a fab ida about trying to interview Jean Adamson. I may try and do that in the new year as I’d be fascinated to do so.
Thank you for your comment x
Had another rummage and found 6 smaller Blackie T+T books as well as the larger ones. The only one with Tansy is T+T Pet Show, where T+T are raising money for Tansy’s playgroup. The larger Blackie books also have pictures of other titles on the back – Tansy is pictured in three (T+T in Holland, Belgium, cross the channel), but only on the back of my dentist book. So bizarre!
It really is a puzzle isn’t it? I may well try and see if I can speak to Jean Adamson in the new year as it would be fascinating to see what she has to say about it.
I was a big fan of Topsy and Tim and the main reason was I was adopted and could really relate to Tansy!! She wasn’t in many of them but enough for me to feel slightly more normal, and when Teddy came a long I was thrilled. Mixed race adoption was quite a big thing in the seventies, there was a big campaign in London for people to adopt us babies so I wonder if the author felt inspired to mark this cultural change in some of her books. Would be great to find out from her what her motivation was behind the idea of Tansy and Teddy.
I keep thinking that there is more and more behind Tansy and the decision to include her than I think anyone originally realised.
Thank you for commenting.
I’ve got loads and loads of the little Handy books from the 1970s and 80s back at my mam’s house. I tried to make a definitive list too, but didn’t get very far. Tansy features in quite a few of the earlier ones – she’s a bridesmaid in the Wedding book, and baby Teddy features in the illustrations. I always wondered why she disappeared – it would be fascinating to find out. My kids adore reading the books when we go to Grandma’s house!
I so wish my mum had hung on to my old books as I would love to go back and look through them all. I too have tried to compile a complete list, but it seems much more difficult than I ever thought. Funny as when I started I assumed it would be quite an easy thing to do!
Hello Penny!
I’m so glad I stumbled across your blog. This post brought back so many happy memories!
I was adopted in 1970. Topsy and Tim and Tansy were an important part of my childhood. My parents introduced me to the idea of adoption through these stories.
I’m writing a blog post about adoption at the moment. Would it be ok for me to use one of your photos?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Natasha
Hi Natasha
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Yes, I’d be happy for you to use one of my photos as long as it is credited.
Thank you
Hi Penny, I’ve just come across this post. We have a collection of old T and T books, large format hardbacks from the 60s and 70s I guess, passed on by Granny. My boys loved them more than the updated versions tho they’re pretty un-PC ! I don’t remember Tansy or Teddy tbh but can dig them out and have a look. There’s a Bonfire Night episode. a fancy dress party, an outing with an uncle in a motorbike sidecar….
I’d love to hear more about your collection Nancy – although as you say they are rather un-PC now! You an email me at penny@beingmrsc.com
Thank you x
Fascinating because I was wondering about Tansy. My 4 year old grand daughter loves the books…especially the older ones. I have quite a collection.
This information may be of interest. My Mum grew up with the wonderful Jean Adamson in South East London. They were both born around the same time (1928) and apparently looked a lot like each other, being known as the “twins”. My Mum shared Jean’s love of art, although she became a teacher rather than an artist. I have two siblings, both of whom are adopted, and it may interest you to know that Tansy was based on my sister and Teddy was based on my brother. I can still remember Jean giving us copies of the books when they came out and it was all very exciting.
I use to have topsy and Tim books at school since when I was a childhood, love looking at them