Books

BAUM, L. Frank. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. With Pictures by W.W. Denslow.[Chicago / New York : Geo. M. Hill Co., 1900]. First State of the First Edition. Pp [3]-[261,(1),+ 15 (of 24) full-page colour plates. Text Illustrations. 8vo, illustrated pale green cloth, stamped in red and green. First state points : page 14 line 1 begins "low wail on"; on plate opposite page 34the moon has two dots; page 81 fourth line from bottom has "peices"; page 227 line 1 begins "While Tin Woodman"; colophon on rear pastedown in 11 lines with the initial letter in red and enclosed in a box; in B binding with publisher printed in red and with the O outside the C at foot of spine; however, lacking plate opp. p. 92 (and thus first state point cannot be verified red shading on horizon) and lacking first leaf (and thus first state point cannot be verified box around ads on page 2). The 15 of 24 plates present (and condition) are : opp. p. 14 "She caught Toto by the ear." (detached, edge chipped and short tear not affecting plate); opp. p. 20 "I am theWitch of the North." (very good); opp. p. 34 "You must be a great sorceress." (very good); opp. p. 36 "Dorothy gazed thoughtfully at the Scarecrow." (very good); opp. p. 66 "You ought to be ashamed of yourself!" (very good);opp. p. 102 "Permit me to introduce to you her Majesty, the Queen." (smudgeaffecting plate); opp. p. 112 "The Lion ate some of the porridge." (tear along gutter not affecting plate); opp. p. 126 "The Eyes looked at her thoughtfully." (small smudge not affecting plate); opp. p. 138 "The Soldier withthe green whiskers led them through the streets." (tears along gutter notaffecting plate); opp. p. 150 "The Monkeys wound many coils about his body." (tears along gutter not affecting plate); opp. p. 160 "The Tinsmiths worked for three days and four nights." (detached); opp. p. 170 "The Monkeys caught Dorothy in their arms and flew away with her." (detached, tear to fore-edge affecting plate); opp. p. 212 "The Scarecrow sat on the big throne."(tears along gutter not affecting plate); opp. p. 246 "The Head shot forward and struck the Scarecrow." (vertical crease); opp. p. 254 "You must giveme the Golden Cap." (tears along gutter not affecting plate). Lacking 9 ofthe 24 colour plates, text block detached from casing, hinges broken, spinecloth torn and spine ends chipped, heavy wear and smudging to cloth, lacking first leaf and bottom 2.5 inches of title page (and thus cannot verify publisher's information), brown stain to bottom margin of pp. 96-103, tearsand chipping along fore-edge of pp 113-114, tear along bottom edge of pp 251-252, numerous leaves loose, a poor, defective copy with complete text. The foundation for a restoration. As is. Net price. 4,500.00.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum. It tells the story of Dorothy, a young farm girl who is whisked away to the magical Land of Oz by a tornado. Alongside her dog Toto, she meets a Scarecrow, a Tin Woodman, and a Cowardly Lion, and they journey together to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard of Oz. Along the way, they face various challenges and the wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy's goal is to return home to Kansas, and she eventually discovers that the power to do so has been with her all along. The story is celebrated for its vivid imagery, and the underlying message that true bravery, love, and intelligence come from within.