Description

This is Aunt Jane’s Nieces, the first book in the series for girls written by L. Frank Baum (Wizard of Oz author) under the Edith Van Dyne pseudonym. Copyright 1906, Reilly & Britton. This is the hard to find 1st edition/3rd printing (ca. 1908), according to the Book Collector’s Guide to L. Frank Baum. With the tan cloth cover, but it differs from later printings in that it still retains the title in capital letters on the front, and unusual for the series, has 4 B&W plate illustrations. Later printings economized with a single frontispiece, an italic title and omitted the author’s name on the cover. Also, the spine says “REILLY & BRITTON CO”, which was shortened in the numerous later printings.

Cover has some fraying and a little loss at bottom spine, some scratching and wear to pastedown, and slight cloth loss at edges/corners. Inside, hinges are intact, front endpaper has prior owner’s name, and the text is in good condition. The 4 plates are all present, three in good condition but one loose from binding and with some edge wear/small tears. An interesting Baum variant.