Description
Here is one of Baum’s non-Wizard of Oz books that isn’t seen very often; The Enchanted Island of Yew. This gorgeous book from 1903 by Bobbs-Merrill is also a first edition, 2nd printing, with orange textual illustrations as in the first printing, but with the fairy on p. 238 printed right side up. The Book Collector’s Guide to L Frank Baum and Bibliographia Baumiana say this printing had the same binding as the first printing, with yellow lightrays coming from the fairy’s wand on the front cover, yet this book does not. Instead, the lightrays are orange, which was the binding normally used in later printings. Perhaps this book was toward the end of the 2nd print run, and Bobbs-Merrilll had already revised the binding? This book also contains eight peculiar and wonderful color plates by Fanny Y. Cory, illustrated endpapers, and is in very good condition overall.
The front cover illustration, spine and rear cover are still bright and clean, with a little bit of wear to base of spine and corners. Inside, the endpapers are nice, with the front hinge intact, and the rear slightly cracked, but still holding. No writing or tears noted. All 8 plates are present, and in great condition. Pages have light occasional soiling, and some creasing at top center. One set of pages has age toning from a paper laid in at one point. Fold mark to rear endpapers and a little foxing to edge of text block. Still a collectible copy in an unusual text/binding variant.
