"SO GOOD LUCK TO LITTLE DOROTHY AND HER COMPANIONS": THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ , FIRST EDITION

BAUM, L. Frank. The Emerald City of Oz. Chicago: Reilly & Britton, (1910). Octavo, original light blue cloth, mounted cover illustration, pictorial endpapers. $5500.

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 with this volume. By the tale's end, the sorceress Glinda has made the fairyland invisible to the outside world, and Dorothy and her aunt and uncle, facing eviction from their Kansas farm, have settled in the Emerald City to stay. Baum's own bankruptcy the next 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.

Text and plates fine, binding near-fine with two corners bumped, very minimal edge-wear, mounted illustrations exceptionally bright and lovely.