Description

“OZZILY YOURS”: DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ, FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, INSCRIBED BY L. FRANK BAUM

BAUM, L. Frank. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz. Chicago: Reilly & Britton, (1908). Octavo, original blue cloth, mounted cover illustration, pictorial endpapers; housed in a custom chemise and half morocco clamshell box.  

First edition, first printing, with many in-text illustrations and 16 full-page color plates by John R. Neill, boldly and delightfully inscribed by the author on the ownership page (flyleaf), “Ozzily yours, L. Frank Baum.”

“Baum’s introductory remarks refer to ‘my loving tyrants,’ the children who demanded more stories of Oz. He states that he has replied to every letter he received, and that he has incorporated many of their suggestions” (Eyles, 47). This volume not only “secured the Wizard his permanent space in the Emerald City” but also inaugurated “a string of 11 Oz books which Reilly & Britton would release annually in time for the Christmas buying season” (Franklin, 32). First printing, with correct three titles listed on advertisement on verso of half title and 16 color plates captioned in black.. Binding A. Without extremely scarce original dust jacket. Hanff & Greene, 53-55. Ownership page bears both Baum’s whimsical inscription and a contemporary owner’s signature.

Interior generally quite clean, plates lovely. Tiny marginal repair to front free endpaper, pinprick holes to ownership page, slight rubbing to cover illustration. A beautiful, about-fine inscribed copy. Rare.