Grahame Johnstone Twins: Finding Out Magazine Bibliography
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Janet & Anne Grahame Johnstone: Finding Out Magazine
About 'Finding Out' Magazine
‘Finding Out: A Modern Library of Education in Weekly Parts’ was a British weekly educational magazine for children, first published by Purnell & Sons Ltd in 1962.
In 1967, the magazine amalgamated with its competitor Look and Learn. Prior to the amalgamation, it appeared every week for 240 issues, the first 72 being numbered 1 to 72, and from then on numbered as volume 7 to 20, each volume having 12 issues. It initially sold for 1s 6d, eventually rising to 2s 6d. Readers could buy binders for each volume. Topics covered included maths, science, history, geography and French, and each issue included a short story. It was noted for its illustrations, which were by some of the top book illustrators of the day, including Angus McBride and Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone.
This page lists the volumes that included illustrations by the Grahame Johnstone twins, as well as a couple of illustrations from stories within the volumes. Most of the illustrated serials were written by Roger Lancelyn Green, and later made available in book form via the stunning Purnell Myths series. The books are rare and often not available, but if you check out the linked page you can take a peek inside them. (Don’t lose hope, just keep checking – it took me ten years to collect the whole set…)
The illustrations are stunning, and the books are highly collectible (sadly, for ‘collectible’, read ‘rare and expensive’). A Finding Out Treasury was also published, containing many of the most popular stories from the magazine’s publishing history.
A complete list of the Grahame Johnstone illustrations in 'Finding Out' Magazine
Finding Out Volume 2, issues #5-7, 9-10, 12
Johnstone illustrations appear in volume 2, issues numbered 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 & 24.
Illustrations are for the series Tales of the Greeks and Trojans (vol. 2, no. 17 – vol. 6. no. 1), which was republished in book form by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1963.
Finding Out Volume 3, issues #1-6, 8-9, 11
Johnstone illustrations appear in volume 3, nos 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35.
Illustrations are for the series Tales of the Greeks and Trojans (vol. 2, no. 17 – vol. 6. no. 1), which was republished in book form by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1963.
Finding Out Volume 4, issues #1-6, 8-9
Johnstone illustrations appear in volume 4, nos 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44 & 45.
Illustrations are for the series Tales of the Greeks and Trojans (vol. 2, no. 17 – vol. 6. no. 1), which was republished in book format by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1963
Finding Out Volume 5, issues #1-3, 5-9, 11-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in volume 5, nos 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59 & 60.
Illustrations are for the series Tales of the Greeks and Trojans (vol. 2, no. 17 – vol. 6. no. 1), which was republished in book form by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1963; and for the series Myths from Many Lands (volume 6, no. 2 – volume 10, no. 1), which was republished as in book form by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1965.
Finding Out Volume 6, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in every issue of volume 6 (nos 61-72).
Illustrations are for the series Tales of the Greeks and Trojans (vol. 2, no. 17 – vol. 6. no. 1), which was republished in book form by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1963; and for the series Myths from Many Lands (volume 6, no. 2 – volume 10, no. 1), which was republished as in book form by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1965.
Finding Out Volume 7, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues, including the front cover of volume 7, no. 10.
Illustrations are for the series Myths from Many Lands (volume 6, no. 2 – volume 10, no. 1), which was republished in book form by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1965.
Finding Out Volume 8, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues, including the front covers of volume 8, nos 1 and 7.
Illustrations are for the series Myths from Many Lands (volume 6, no. 2 – volume 10, no. 1), which was republished in book form by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1965.
Finding Out Volume 9, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues.
Illustrations are for the series Myths from Many Lands (volume 6, no. 2 – volume 10, no. 1), which was republished in book form by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1965.
Finding Out Volume 10, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues, including the front covers of volume 10 nos 7 & 12.
Illustrations are for the series Myths from Many Lands (volume 6, no. 2 – volume 10, no. 1), which was republished in book form by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1965; and for the series Folk Tales of the World (volume 10, no. 2 – volume 12, no. 5), which was republished as a book by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1966.
Finding Out Volume 11, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues, including the front cover of volume 11, no. 3.
Illustrations are for the series Folk Tales of the World (volume 10, no. 2 – volume 12, no. 5), which was republished as a book by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1966.
Finding Out Volume 12, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues, including the front cover of volume 12, no. 6.
Illustrations are for the series Folk Tales of the World (volume 10, no. 2 – volume 12, no. 5), which was republished as a book by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1966; and for the series Sir Lancelot of the Lake (volume 12, no. 6 – volume 15, no. 5), which was republished as a book by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1966.
Finding Out Volume 13, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues.
Illustrations are for the series Sir Lancelot of the Lake (volume 12, no. 6 – volume 15, no. 5), which was republished as a book by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1966.
Finding Out Volume 14, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues.
Illustrations are for the series Sir Lancelot of the Lake (volume 12, no. 6 – volume 15, no. 5), which was republished as a book by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1966.
Finding Out Volume 15, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues, including the front cover of volume 15, no. 6.
Illustrations are for the series Sir Lancelot of the Lake (volume 12, no. 6 – volume 15, no. 5), which was republished as a book by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1966; and for the series Jason and the Golden Fleece (volume 15, no. 6 – volume 18, no. 6), which was also republished as a book by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1968.
Finding Out Volume 16, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues.
Illustrations are for the series Jason and the Golden Fleece (volume 15, no. 6 – volume 18, no. 6), which was republished as a book by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1968.
Finding Out Volume 17, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues, including the front cover of volumes 17, nos. 1 and 7.
Illustrations are for the series Jason and the Golden Fleece (volume 15, no. 6 – volume 18, no. 6), which was republished as a book by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1968.
Finding Out Volume 18, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues, including the front covers of volume 18, nos 5 and 6.
Illustrations are for the series Jason and the Golden Fleece (volume 15, no. 6 – volume 18, no. 6), which was republished as a book by Roger Lancelyn Green in 1968; and for the series Robin Hood (volume 18, no. 6 – volume 19, no. 3). Robin Hood unfortunately was never reprinted in book form.
Finding Out Volume 19, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues, including the front cover of volume 19, no. 4.
Illustrations are for the series Robin Hood (volume 18, no. 6 – volume 19, no. 3); and The Legend of Perseus (volume 19, no. 4 – volume 20, no. 3). These stories were not made available in book form.
Finding Out Volume 20, issues #1-12
Johnstone illustrations appear in all issues, including the front covers of volume 20, numbers 4 & 12.
Illustrations are for the series The Legend of Perseus (volume 19, no. 4 – volume 20, no. 3); and for The Story of Atalanta (volume 20, nos 7-12). Single illustrations also appear of The Poor Japanese Peasants and their Dog (volume 20, no. 4); Viravara and His Devotion to the King (volume 20, no. 5); and Kessi the Hunter (volume 20, no. 6). These stories were not made available in book form.
20 Comments
Sally C · 1 April 2024 at 4:18 pm
We have a complete set of Finding Out Magazines. Issues : No 1-72 in 3 folders and Volume 7-20 (folders 4-10).
Would anyone be interested in buying them?
JNC · 28 February 2023 at 4:53 am
I have in my attic bound volumes 1-12 of Finding Out. As a teenager I loved the illustrations. Condition is not perfect (some of the puzzle pages have been completed!) but as far as I know everything is there.
Would anyone be interested in acquiring them?
Alli K · 26 March 2023 at 2:54 am
Hey JNC, I would interested in your Finding Out volumes if you still have them!
JNC · 26 March 2023 at 8:26 am
I still have them – not the easiest of things to ship (all 20 volumes, bound)!
JNC · 26 March 2023 at 8:28 am
I still have them – not the easiest of things to ship (all 20 volumes, bound)!
Oops – 12 volumes – but still quite bulky.
Alli K · 26 March 2023 at 9:05 am
Would you still be able to ship them to the US? I’d pay for the shipping of course. If you want to talk specifics feel free to shoot me an email here: [email protected]
Peter Mansfield · 6 June 2022 at 4:05 am
Love the site, but just time for just a couple of things. You seem to have overlooked ‘Rip Van Winkle’ in #14, and I’m pretty sure that the ‘Pipe of Pan’ in vol.11.#3 is actually by Richard Hook. I could be wrong, but he was Finding Out’s art editor, and illustrated most, if not all, of the poetry pages. Very much his watercolour style.
Daisy · 7 June 2022 at 10:03 am
Thanks Peter – excellent observations. The Pipe of Pan info came from another collector, but tbh at the time I also thought it looked more like Richard Hook, so given your input I will update. And thanks for the note on Rip Van Winkle, it should indeed be in the list!
ruth williams · 4 September 2020 at 8:50 am
Ah so that’s what happened – it amalgamated with Look & Learn in 1967 .. i recently purchased some of ’67, all of 68 and ’69 and bits of ’70 of Look and Learn but was still on the hunt for the magazine i loved the illustrations for the name of which popped into my head this morning – Finding Out !! thanks so much for this resource
Daisy · 6 September 2020 at 7:48 am
They were such a fabulous magazine – fantastic that you have such a collection!
David goodison · 16 May 2021 at 6:16 pm
I have just located 120 copies of FINDING OUT MAGAZINE…one has picture of Beatles on front cover.
I still have to cataligue and referece they.note that Johnstone twins have lots of their artwork featured in them.
Anyone out there have any knowledge of their collectors value.
Thanks
David
Phil Rushton · 2 June 2020 at 1:57 am
Thanks for providing this wonderful resource Daisy. I’ve loved Finding Out magazine ever since copies were given away with Shreddies breakfast cereal in the 1960s, and was given a brand new copy of Tales of Greeks & Trojans for my 10th birthday after having it out on almost permanent loan from the School Library for months on end. Since then I’ve been able to collect most issues, as well as acquiring several pieces of original art by the Johnstone sisters when they were still relatively affordable.
Daisy · 6 June 2020 at 12:44 pm
Hi Phil – oh, how wonderful! Such a delightful series to have collected, and the books have long been my favourites. Amazing to have some of their original artworks – which pieces do you have?
Phil Rushton · 10 June 2020 at 12:54 am
They’re mostly from Sir Lancelot, Myths from Many Lands and Folk Tales of the World, though I also have a couple from Greeks & Trojans…and one from Atalanta I think.
Daisy · 10 June 2020 at 8:56 am
Some of their best work! Congrats – how fantastic ???
Sharon Vanderzee · 19 August 2021 at 12:32 am
Oh.my.Goodness. I’ve been besotted with these since childhood. My sister and I used to have the Greeks and Trojans book which I coped endlessly, but can we find it now??? Been searching for years. Last hope is that it’s buried in our mothers loft somewhere but she will NOT let us up there to rummage 😩 I’m 70 next birthday so hope I outlast her!
Daisy · 2 September 2021 at 1:19 pm
Sharon – did you manage to get up into the loft yet? The Greeks and Trojans book is much beloved but terribly scarce and so hard to find affordably on the second hand market – rummaging is your best bet 😉 !
Peter Mansfield · 2 November 2022 at 9:25 pm
I’ve created complete digital archives for both ‘Once Upon a Time’ (fabulous magazine) and ‘World of Wonder’, and at present I’m working my way through ‘Finding Out’. I keep coming across Phil’s name in comic circles, and perhaps this is one way to get in touch with him. I’m 3/4 of the way through the ‘Finding out’ project, and seem to have hit the buffers. I don’t know if he can actually help, but I’m sure that he’ll be interested.
ed hillyer · 6 May 2020 at 9:50 pm
an amazing resource, Daisy – thank you so much. wonderful to see so many of these gorgeous illustrations and at a decent size. I’m on the hunt for issues of FINDING OUT now, that’s for sure – it seems an easier way to get hold of the same material – the Lancelyn Green books are almost impossible to find at any price! I did see a J&A GJ Robin Hood book for sale online the other day – but no way to look inside it to see what sort of illustrations it might have included. I really deeply appreciate all the time and effort you have put into this.
Daisy · 21 May 2020 at 6:29 pm
Thanks Ed! Lovely to hear from another fan of their artwork (and so sorry for not replying earlier – your comment only now came up on my feed for some reason). The Finding Out Magazines had some fantastic artwork from other artists as well, so I do hope you are able to source some for your collection – the early ones at least seem to come up quite regularly on ebay in the UK, but the later ones are somewhat harder to find. It took me about 10 years to track down all the Lancelyn Green books at a reasonable price, so take heart – they do come up occasionally, but it’s definitely a long haul… And wow – I’ve never seen a Robin Hood book illustrated by them for sale, just the magazine! I’ve done an extensive amount of research on their publications and I didn’t think their Robin Hood magazine artwork was published in book form, where ever did you find it??