Description

THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS, INSCRIBED BY BAUM

BAUM, L. Frank. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. Indianapolis: Bowen-Merrill, 1902. Quarto, original pictorial red cloth, pictorial endpapers. Housed in custom clamshell box.

First edition of Baum’s biography of Santa, with 12 color plates and numerous in-text illustrations by Mary Cowles Clark, inscribed by the author, “L. Frank Baum, Hollywood, April 1907.”

Though best known for his Oz books, “Baum displayed his wizardry at forging a whole new mythology from already-existing characters” with this volume (Franklin, 33). Baum was the “first [author] to write a book entirely about Santa” (Clute & Grant, 836). Appropriately, Baum delivered the manuscript for this book to his publisher on Christmas Day of 1901 (Hearn, liii). First issue, second state, with divisions “Youth,” “Manhood” and “Old Age.” Connolly, 38. Owner inscription dated Christmas 1903.

A beautiful copy, bright and fine.