Description

“THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM IN THE LAND OF OZ”: FIRST EDITIONOF

THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ

BAUM, L. Frank. The Emerald City of Oz. Chicago: Reilly & Britton, (1910). Octavo, original light blue cloth, mounted cover illustration, pictorial endpapers.

First edition, first state, of the sixth Oz book, with 16 full-page color illustrations by John R. Neill.

Baum intended to conclude his popular series in this volume; by book’s end, Dorothy and her aunt and uncle, facing eviction from their Kansas farm, arrive in the Emerald City to stay. Baum’s own bankruptcy the following year, however, would mean he “had no choice but to call once more upon the magic of Oz in an attempt to restore his fortunes” (Eyles, 48). Neill’s plates, embellished with metallic green ink, make first editions of this title particularly notable. First edition, with all first state points. Without very rare dust jacket. Greene & Hanff, 61-62.

Plates lovely, metallic ink bright. Contemporary owner inscription to ownership page. Light rubbing to spine, joints and extremities of cloth; minor discoloration to edge of rear board. Mounted cover illustration fine. Overall a beautiful copy, near-fine.