Description

“OZZILY YOURS?”: THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ, FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY BAUM FOR CHRISTMAS DAY  IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION

BAUM, L. Frank. The Patchwork Girl of Oz. Chicago: Reilly & Britton, (1913). Octavo, original pictorial green cloth, pictorial endpapers. Housed in custom slipcase.

First edition of Baum’s seventh Oz book, profusely illustrated by John Neill with numerous color and black-and-white text illustrations (many full page), boldly inscribed by the author in the year of publication, “Ozily yours, L. Frank Baum, Dec. 25, 1913.”

After writing a series of unrelated fairy stories, Baum, motivated by popular demand and personal bankruptcy, returned to tales of Oz with this volume. He would produce a new Oz title annually until his death in 1919. This novel became the basis for the first production of Baum’s motion picture production business, the Oz Film Manufacturing Company. The film proved an unexpected failure, but the novel has enchanted generations. Baum himself considered it, along with the non-Oz Sky Island, one of “the two best books of my career” (Rogers, 184). In first state binding with the following textual points: five pages of advertisements with synopses at rear; announcement with half-tone photographs on page [343]; the “C” of “Chapter Three” (page 35) corrected.Without extremely scarce original dust jacket. Hanff & Greene, 63-65. Gift inscription to ownership leaf, below and not affecting Baum’s inscription. Copies of the Oz titles inscribed by Baum are elusive and extremely desirable.

Interior with occasional light soiling, closed tears (rarely touching text),light red stain to page [146]. Inner paper hinges lightly split. Cloth with mild rubbing to spine and joints, faint dampstains to rear board. An extremely good copy, exceptionally scarce and prized signed by Baum.