Does anyone know the title of this early 1950's book?

[DavidRayner1]

There's a book that I've been trying to find for years that I used to have up to the age of seven years in 1954, so the book would be no later than that, but I can't track it down because I don't know the title. However, I will describe what I remember being in it and maybe you may recognise it. I thought it may have been one of those Daily Mail Annuals for Girls and Boys, but I bought a whole set of those from the early 1950's off eBay and I now know it wasn't any of those.

Anyway, one double page colour spread showed a scene in central London, perhaps Piccadilly Circus, with a cutaway view of an underground station beneath the streets. Another double page colour spread showed what I remember as being Charles Lindberg's plane, The Spirit of St Louis, flying through an electrical storm against dark grey, ominous clouds. At least it was a single engine plane with only one wing either side. Other pages showed an adaptation of Alice Through The Looking Glass, with pictures of the White Night, an old man with a white beard and drooping moustache, standing by his horse. Both he and his horse were wearing silver armour. The book was a hard back book, about the size of a Picture Show annual and it had a red cover with the title embossed on it in gold lettering. I seem to recall that the title of the book had something to do with the name of a newspaper, but it can't have been the Daily Mail…or could it? Does any of the above ring a bell?

[heathfield]

Eagle Annual? The Eagle comic was famous for its superb cut-away illustrations that featured every week on the centrefold.

[DavidRayner1]

Thanks, Heathfield, but I seem to remember Eagle annual having a picture cover and the book I had didn't have a picture cover. Unless it was originally in a pictorial dust jacket that was somehow lost.

[flicrat]

The Daily Mirror published a lot of books.Any help?

[DavidRayner1]

Thanks, flicrat. It could have been a Daily Mirror or Daily Express book. I shall have to keep looking on eBay. Trouble is, the only Daily Express books that appear on there are Rupert the Bear annuals and it wasn't anything to do with that.