The book’s popularity can easily be gauged
from the early release of revised editions in
1960 and 62, then in 1965 Hutchinson’s
decided on a re-launch of the whole series dropping the word ‘Popular’ from the title, and producing a new dust jacket design. In the fourth edition, now titled ‘The Collie’ most of the content changed little, although it was brought up to date, the one significant difference being the paragraph on ‘Interpreting The Standard’, which was now written by the author, rather than being a reproduction of Miss Molony’s thoughts originally produced in the Collie Association Handbook of 1952. Other significant changes were confined to the appendices, with the Challenge Certificate Winners list, having been brought up to date, now occupying several pages the lists of winner producing sires and dams was dropped, their place taken by explanations of PRA, Tube Feeding Puppies, and a list of comparative registration figures
As the series approached its thirtieth anniversary another re-launch was considered necessary, and on this occasion the most significant change was to the dust jackets which changed from black and white with blue spot colouring, to an attractive mustard and green with full colour photograph. The more popular breed titles acquiring new editions, which introduced additional photographic images placed in just two sizeable blocks.
Everything in the canine world had so entirely changed by this time that a complete re-write was really called for, particularly in those chapters dealing with the more practical aspects of the canine fancy, but Miss Osborne, now nearing 80, considered herself too old and frail to undertake such a considerable task, so her successor as Dog World Breed Correspondent, and Collie Association Secretary, Mrs Aileen Speding, was approached and agreed to perform what must have been a very difficult assignment.
