Description
Here is an unusual book by L. Frank Baum about John Dough, a very unusual gingerbread man. This is the Reilly & Britton first edition, second printing (still published by Reilly & Britton, but with some text corrections made). The binding state is a little unusual, as it has Reilly & Britton in upper and lower case on the spine, and a blank rear cover, which would normally be Binding C according to the Book Collector’s Guide to L Frank Baum. However, the Gingerbread Man’s coat color is paler, more yellow, than the typical C binding, more like bindings D or E (see last photo with comparison). I’ve discussed this with the Guide’s author Paul Bienvenue, and he believes it is still closest to Binding C. With illustrated endpapers, and without the content entry form facing page 8 present in the earliest printings. Book has many weird and wonderful drawings in vivid color by John R. Neill, and a cute story worth reading. Rear endpapers advertise The Twinkle Tales and The Christmas Stocking Series (with the little books packaged in a miniature bookcase), The Land of Oz and the rare Woggle-bug Book.
This book is in fair to good overall condition, with some flaws. Cover has some scratching and spine is heavily faded. Inside, front hinge is very messily glue-repaired–see photos. Inside, both hinges are badly cracked and the binding is fairly loose, though all the pages are there. Endpapers have some wear as shown. Other pages and illustrations are in generally good condition with some soiling and a pencil scribble on p. 206. See photos.
