The Beezer Book

The Beezer Annual was the final name of the book that had been published every year since 1957, to tie in with the children's comic The Beezer. 46 were made over the years. Since they were traditionally published in the autumn and in time for Christmas, since 1965 they had the date of the following year on the cover. Before then no date was given.

The original title was 'The Beezer Book for Boys and Girls'. The 'for Boys and Girls' part was used rarely, however, and made its last appearance on the front of the 1966 annual. This annual also coincided with the introduction of the year to the front cover: this annual was called 'The Beezer Book for Boys and Girls 1966', while next year's was called 'The Beezer Book 1967'. This name continued, the year changing for each different annual, until the release of the 2003 book in 2002 when it was renamed to its final name, though the following year still appeared at the end. The adult comic Viz parodied the Beezer Book's original title by calling its 2002 annual "Viz Annual 2002: The Better Book for Boys and Girls", which featured one of its younger characters on the cover holding something representing a pornographic Beezer publication.

Although The Beezer comic's final issue occurred in 1993, the annual continued for another 9 years. The 2003 annual was the final one.

This information is necessary to identify older annuals which were not dated. Annuals were published the autumn before with the 1958 annual published Autumn 1957. Price is in shillings and (old) pence with one shilling equal to 5p :

* 1958. Beezer characters climbing up steep stairway. Price 7/-
* 1959. Beezer characters on head and shoulders. Stepladder-balloon-bicycle holding up letters of word "Beezer". Price 7/-
* 1960. Head and shoulders of Baby Crockett. Price 7/-
* 1961. Globe of the world wearing school cap and four stars, one in each corner. Price 7/6
* 1962. Old Locomotive and carriage with Beezer characters inside. Price 7/6
* 1963. Two pirates, each in the holes of the B of Beezer and airplanes at the top of cover. Price 7/6
* 1964. Head and shoulders of man in uniform which is decorated with medals. Word Beezer on hat band. Price 7/6
* 1965. Colonel Blink wearing a large drum on his chest and about to fall down an open manhole. Price 7/6

The books were dated from 1966 onwards.
* 1972. "Dick" and "Harry" throwing rings at a sleeping "Pop"

See also

List of DC Thomson publications