Source of Riddle's Diary Solved

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 87458

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "a_reader2003" 
<carolynwhite2 at a...> wrote:

Carolyn:
> It is also *really* peculiar to have the address of the newsagent 
> printed on the back of the diary. The name of the printer, yes, 
> that's normal, but *not* a newsagent. Very few newsagent's would be 
> big enough to have own-brand diaries even now, let alone in 1943.

<snip>

> As Geoff has pointed out, the only UK chain of newsagents big 
enough 
> to possibly have an own-brand diary range in 1943 is WH Smith. 
> However, this still makes no sense, as they would not print the 
> address of just one of their shops on the back of the diary, what 
> would appear there would be their company name, and possibly the 
> printer's name and address.
> 

Geoff:
A point which may be worth considering is that, for many years now, 
it has been possible to get diaries advertising your own 
organisation - possibly by stamping the cover or by additional 
printing on the title page.

It could just be possible that the newsagent in question had some 
diaries done for advertising purposes or maybe for Christmas. I agree 
it was in wartime and there were paper restrictions but it might have 
been a way of reminding customers that they were still there and 
stopping locals ambling off to the bigger newsagents and stationers 
in Vauxhall or Waterloo or Brixton.

Geoff