I often get asked about the codes that PAN used such as G or X and the answer is really quite simple, it relates to the price of the book so here goes with a quick guide.

Originally PAN books with just numbers were 1/6. Some were reissued with a dust jacket which often had 2/0 on it. Later just number titles all became 2/0. GP and G were 2/6, X were 3/6, A were 4/0, M were 5/0, T were 6/0, U were 7/0, E were 7/6, C were 8/0, R were 8/6, W were 10/6, Q were 12/0, H were 12/6 and Z were 15/0. PAN Pipers were the same but with an P added to it so TP were 6/0. Does anyone have any more to add?

For the younger ones amongst after 1971 a predecimal 1/0 became 5p so Z as the most expensive range at 15/0 would be 75p today.

Off to the Isle of Wight for a few days. People tell me it's stuck in a time warp, just like going back to the 50's or 60's. Do you think this means they may still be selling PANs from that time as new? Dream on!