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 and favorably compared Miss Bancroft’s stories to Mr. Baum’s work.”
This notoriously fragile book is in near very good condition overall. The cloth spine has some abrasion/rubbing as shown. The paper covered boards are slightly dirty, and heavily worn at the corners (but read on!) Cover graphics are still beautiful. Inside, the book is in amazing condition, with all 8 GORGEOUS color plates in like new condition. Binding and hinges are intact and in good shape. There is a poignant pencil inscription to front endpaper: “Pape Clyde frought this book to Marian when she was sick. May 8, 1915. Died May 15.” Other pages are clean without tears or writing, as poor Marian didn’t get much chance to enjoy it. Ownership page is blank. A nice copy overall.
