W. O. G. Lofts

William Oliver Guillemont Lofts (2 September 1923 – 27 June 1997) was a British researcher and author.

W. O. G. Lofts
Born(1923-09-02)2 September 1923
Marylebone, London, England
Died27 June 1997(1997-06-27) (aged 73)
Kensington and Chelsea, London
NationalityBritish
OccupationResearcher and author
Years active1942 – 1994
Known forCataloging British Juvenile Fiction
Notable work
The Men Behind Boys' Fiction

Lofts was born in Marylebone, London in 1923, and attended Barrow Hill Road Elementary School. At sixteen he was working as an office boy, and still living at home at 146 Ashbridge Street in Marylebone.[1] During the Second World War, he enlisted in the Royal Artillery on 6 August 1942 amd served in India and Myanmar for almost all of his service.[2] It was during his miliary service that he first became avidly interested in juvenile fiction, after coming across a "Sexton Blake" paperback in a deserted hut in 1944.[3]

From the 1960s to the 1980s he worked for the legal department of IPC Magazines, mostly researching issues related to copyright. He was deeply interested in boys' fiction, and spent years researching the topic, collaborating with another researcher Derek John Adley, on many bibliographic works.[3]

Lofts' writings include The Saint and Leslie Charteris (1970) and The World of Frank Richards (1975).

Works
Writing by W. O. G. Lofts (BL refers to British Library)
NoYearTitleOther AuthorPagesPublisherISBNBLSource, if other than BLOn-line link
11969The British Bibliography of Edgar WallaceDerek John Adley246Howard Baker, London0093047606YesInternet archive
21969Old Boys Books: A Complete CatalogueDerek John Adley93Authors, YorkYesFriardale
31970The Men Behind Boys' FictionDerek John Adley361Howard Baker, London0093047703YesInternet archive
41971The Saint and Leslie CharterisDerek John Adley135Hutchinson Library Services, London0093048009Yes
51975World Of Frank RichardsDerek John Adley206Howard Baker, London0703000683NoAmazon.co.ukFriardale
6c. 1978The Rupert Index: A Bibliography of Rupert BearDerek John Adley74Norman Shaw, LondonYes
7c. 1980William: A BibliographyDerek John Adley51Norman Shaw, LondonYes
8c. 1981The Gem Index: A Catalogue of St. Jim's StoriesDerek John Adley94Authors, South Harrow?YesPage count from AbeBooks-Peakirk Books
91982Catalogue of Boys & Girls AnnualsDerek John Adley143Authors, South HarrowYes
101982The Hotspur, A Catalogue 1933-1959Derek John Adley67Authors, South HarrowNoAbe Books-Burwood Books, Wickham Market
11c. 1983Greyfriars Since The Magnet : A BibliographyDerek John Adley19Authors, South HarrowYesFriardale
121983The ThrillerDerek John Adley20A Cadwallender, ManchesterNoAbe Books-Burwood Books, Wickham Market
131986Identification Guide To The D. C. Thomson And John Leng Children's Annuals 1921-1964.Derek John Adley38Yesterday's Paper, WellingtonNoAbe Books-Any Amount of Books, London
141986The Concise Magnet Companion '86, Edited by George BealGeorge Beal97No
151987The Detective Weekly: A BibliographyDerek John Adley21AuthorsNoAbeBooks-Any Amount of Books, London
161987Origins of the Boys Friend LibraryDerek John AdleyHoward Baker, LondonNoAmazon.co.uk
171990The Thriller : The Paper with a Thousand ThrillsDerek John Adley48C.J. Publications/A.B. WhitworthNoAbe Books-Any Amount of Books, London
181991The New Rupert Index: Revised and Updated by John BeckDerek John Adley, John Beck117John BeckNoAbe Books-D2D Books, Berkshire
191994RookwoodDerek John Adley45Happy Hours, LeedsNoAbe Books-Any Amount of Books, LondonFriardale

References
  1. National Archives. 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/468D: E.D. AROO. Kew: National Archives.
  2. Royal Artillery (1945). Royal Artillery Tracer Card: William Oliver Guellemont Lofts. Larkhill, Wiltshire: Royal Artillery Museum.
  3. Adrian, Jack (1997-07-12). "Obituary: W. O. G. Lofts". The Independent. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
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