Description

“OZZILY YOURS”: FIRST STATE OF OZMA OF OZ, INSCRIBED BY L. FRANK BAUM

BAUM, L. Frank. Ozma of Oz. Chicago: Reilly & Britton, (1907). Octavo, original pictorial light tan cloth, pictorial endpapers.

First edition, first issue of the third Oz book, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Ozzily Yours, L. Frank Baum.”

Despite the popularity of the 1904 Marvelous Land of Oz, there was a hue and cry over Baum’s character omissions, which he made sure to rectify in the third of the series” (Franklin, 32). “Baum responded to his young readers’ pleas for ‘more about Dorothy? The Cowardly Lion also reappeared? [and Baum introduced] the clockwork man, Tik-Tok, the first manmade mechanical figure in literature (years before the word ‘robot’ was invented)” (Eyles, 46). First issue, in primary binding with “The Reilly & Britton Co.” at spine foot. In this copy, pp. 135-36, 153-54, 221-22 are integral leaves, not cancels. “Apparently the coloring on these pages suffered smudging or ‘offset’ during printing and stacking of the sheets, and the worst of them were excised and replaced after the books were assembled” (Hanff & Greene, 50). Page 222 does show some offset, but apparently not enough to have been removed. Features 40 full-page color illustrations and many color headpieces by John R. Neill. Without extremely scarce original dust jacket. Hanff & Greene, 50-51 Owner signature on ownership page.

Interior with scattered light foxing and marginal soiling. Minor restoration to spine ends. Light soiling to original pictorial cloth, colors bright. An excellent and attractive copy. Any Oz title inscribed by Baum is particularly desirable.