Here is an interesting early book with title page design by W.W. Denslow of Wizard of Oz fame: On the Heights by Berthold Auerbach, published by Rand McNally, undated but circa late 1800s. Denslow designed a number of elaborate book covers for Rand McNally during the 1896-1899 period, but also did a stock title page used on this and a few other books. The art depicts two stylized griffins, with shields and stars above. Den’s seahorse is included not once but twice–at the upper left and on lower right! The books with this title page also feature a gilt eagle Great Seal with a real diagonal ribbon in different colors on the cover, unknown if this is Den’s work or not. This cover is in blue.
The book is in fair only condition, as it’s missing the front endpaper and half title and appears to have been glue repaired at at the title page. Small tear at top of title page, and moderate wear to cover and spine. Still an unusual early Denslow title, priced low due to condition.
Here is an interesting early book with title page design by W.W. Denslow of Wizard of Oz fame: Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb, published by Rand McNally, undated but circa late 1800s. Denslow designed a number of elaborate book covers for Rand McNally during the 1896-1899 period, but also did a stock title page used on this and a few other books. The art depicts two stylized griffins, with shields and stars above. Den’s seahorse is included not once but twice–at the upper left and on lower right! The books with this title page also feature a gilt eagle Great Seal with a real diagonal ribbon in different colors on the cover, unknown if this is Den’s work or not. This cover is in red. With 22 of the Bard’s classic tales.
The book is in very good condition, clean and tight but with some discoloration to spine as shown. A very nice and unusual Denslow work.
Here is an unusual item: the Montgomery Ward & Co. Announcement of General Catalogue #66. Wizard of Oz artist W W Denslow is known to have illustrated much and signed some of the clip art throughout the 1899 MW catalog. This Announcement is more extensive that that for the 1898 catalog, as there are about 34 individual drawings on 40 pages, but they are unsigned. Denslow’s account book does list many small drawings for Montgomery Ward during this period, so likely some of these drawings are his as well. The booklet is about 6″x6″. Stapled binding in good condition; has been folded. With original decorated envelope with flag postmark. Scarce.
A rare trade card with funky characters by Wizard of Oz illustrator W W Denslow attributed to Denslow in the Autumn 1992 Baum Bugle checklist of Denslow’s work. Ca 1881, one of the earliest Denslow collectibles! This is the title card of a set of eight advertising the play “3 of a Kind”, and the only ones to attribute the play to “Salsbury’s Troubadours”. In good condition, with a light edge wear and creasing. A nice example of Denslow’s very early work. I also have other cards in this series in a separate listing.
Here is a scarce early book with a cover design by W.W. Denslow of Wizard of Oz fame: Prince Schamyl’s Wooing by Richard Henry Savage. Published in 1897 by Rand McNally, one of their softcover “Oriental Library” series. Denslow designed a number of elaborate book covers for Rand McNally during this period, for more information see “W. W. Denslow” by Greene and Hearn, and the Oz Enthusiast blog at http://theozenthusiast.blogspot.com/2008/05/denslow-covers.html. These softcover titles are very fragile and fewer survived that the more common hardcover ones.
The book has 345 numbered pages, and is complete but in fair overall condition with substantial toning and staining to covers, some chipping to spine, wear to endpapers and toning to pages. An unusual title with no other copies available online at time of listing, and the first I have seen.
Check out my Wonderful Books of Oz store for many cool original Denslow-related items!
Here is a fun lot of 10 Roycroft magazines, nine with cover art featuring Wizard of Oz artist W W Denslow’s trademark hippocampus (seahorse). These show the transformation of the covers over the years. The small issues are packed with wonderful Elbert Hubbardisms, Roycroft products, article and ads. Includes a special CONVENTION issue with lots of photos, and the rear covers feature Hubbard mottos. A few also have a beautiful “Elbert Hubbard’s Memorial Page” centerfold. Includes issues between Dec 1918 through Jan 1925, in varying condition, two a little chipped or stained but most very good overall. Also included is a Roycroft Shops Membership invitation.
Sold: Here are four issues of “The Philistine, A Periodical of Protest”, a Roycroft publication, one (March 1906) with W W Denslow’s sardonic “What’s the Use” skull illustration. This small monthly magazine was put out by Hubbard with social and political commentary. These issues were published between Jan through June of 1906. The front covers also have a Denslow seahorse holding up the volume number. The magazines are complete and also have Hubbard copy and interesting period ads for lotions, potions, ties, etc. Beautiful decorated mottos on the rear cover as well. They are in nice condition with age toning and some light wear.
Here are four issues of “The Philistine, A Periodical of Protest”, a Roycroft publication, one (Sept 1906) with W W Denslow’s sardonic “What’s the Use” skull illustration. This small monthly magazine was put out by Hubbard with social and political commentary. These issues were published between July through Sept of 1906, with one from July 1913. The front covers also have a Denslow seahorse holding up the volume number. The magazines are complete and also have Hubbard copy and interesting period ads for lotions, potions, ties, etc. The first few pages of the 1913 issue have staining and the spine is partly split as well. Others are in nice condition (age toning as normal), though there is a little chipping along the right side of the Denslow page, just in the outer margin.
Here is a nice copy of The Songs of Father Goose, verse by L. Frank Baum and pictures by the prolific W. W. Denslow. This is the 1st edition, only printing published by Geo. M Hill in 1900. The oversized book has 84 pages and many individual songs, each illustrated with a black and white full page by Denslow. The Denslow illustrations are, as usual, very clever and fabulous!
This book was often read to death (see Ebay lower-end copies) and this copy has survived better than most. Would be very good save for the front hinge being badly cracked, but holding. The rear hinge is intact and the exterior is very good overall–with some edge wear to the fragile boards, but spine intact and board graphics nice and clean. Inside there is a charming 1901 inscription on the front endpaper, and the pages are in very good shape overall, with some light soiling.
Here is a quite rare Oz-related title: Pictures from the Wonderful Wizard of Oz by W W Denslow, who also illustrated the 1900 1st edition of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The George M Hill 1st edition plate sheets were purchased by Geo. W. Ogilvie, a Chicago publishing house, following Hill’s bankruptcy. This book contains plates from that version of the Wizard, backed with a strange and abridged version of the story by Thos. H Russell which only refers to Dorothy as “The Little Girl”. Possibly this was to avoid Denslow having to credit L. Frank Baum as the author, as the two had a falling out over royalties and creative differences by this time. This book undated, but thought to be from about 1903. Small 6 1/2 by 8 3/8″ format, in cardstock wrappers featuring Montgomery and Stone as the Scarecrow and Tin-man from the ca. 1903 Wizard of Oz screenplay.
There are 22 color plates from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz visible, with the 23rd plate (the title-page) and the 24th plate pasted inside the front and rear wrappers, respectively. This weird set-up is as issued; see Bienvenue’s Book Collector’s Guide to L Frank Baum for more information. Condition of this fragile book is better than usual, especially the cover, which usually has some loss of the fragile cardstock covers. This one is complete with some creasing and wear and the original cloth spine. Inside, all the pages and plates are present, and the center leaf of four pages/plates, often lost, is present but separated from the other stapled pages. The main issue is childish writing inside the cover, which is in pencil, so possibly could be erased. There is also a scribble in pencil on the title page. The other pages and plates are generally in good condition, with some wear, except for one leaf which is missing a corner. Not perfect, but a must for the serious collector, and where ya gonna find another? Nice because it includes Denslow plates that were omitted from later editions of the Wizard, and one of the scarcest of Denslow titles!!