Description
Here is one of Baum’s non-Oz books that isn’t seen very often. This printing is copyright 1903 and published by Bobbs-Merrill, but according to the Book Collector’s Guide to Baum was published ca 1906-1908. Some of the in-text illustrations have changed to black and white, but it still contains eight wonderful color plates by Fanny Y. Cory. Also interesting that instead of orange or blank endpapers, it has light blue endpapers associated with the Magical Monarch of Mo book also in production at the same time.
The cover of this book is beautiful, quite clean with just a little wear at spine ends. However, I’m rating the book good rather than very good because someone (an amateur!) has tried to repair the book with non-archival glue between the title page and frontispiece, and it’s not pretty as shown in one photo. Hinges and binding are tight, and the endpapers have some toning and old prices in upper corner. Some loosening of binding between the half-title and frontispiece, but still secure. All eight color plates are present and in beautiful condition. The pages are very clean and nice except for one starting to loosen a bit.
