Description
Here is a hard to find Baum book: “Babes in Birdland” (A Fairy Tale) by Laura Bancroft. Bancroft is one of L Frank Baum’s (Wizard of Oz author) pseudonyms. Copyright 1911 by Reilly & Britton, first edition, first printing with Laura Bancroft credited on front, rather than L. Frank Baum. Eight lovely color plates by Maginel Wright Enright, Frank Lloyd Wright’s sister. Several pages of ads for Baum stories in the back, including one for the Twinkle Tales, also by Bancroft/Baum, that says “several critics who have read The Twinkle Tales favorably compare Miss Bancroft’s stories to Mr. Baum’s work.”
This notoriously fragile book is in good condition overall. The cloth spine has some abrasion/rubbing as shown, especially on the back. The paper covered boards are heavily worn at the corners (but read on!) Cover graphics are still beautiful. Inside, the book is in nice condition, with all 8 color plates present with a little staining along top edge. Binding and hinges are intact, and rear endpaper has an old bookseller’s pencil notation. Other pages are clean without tears or writing, with the ownership page blank, and a little foxing to the left side of title page.
