Description
This is a nice find: the Magical Monarch of Mo, by L. Frank Baum, first edition, third printing by Bobbs-Merrill, copyright 1903. Blue cloth cover stamped in navy & white, pastedown cover illustration, with the third printing publisher’s imprint (san serif, Imprint C) as given by The Book Collector’s Guide to Baum. The book also is a variant with blank endpapers, but do not appear to have been replaced. A lavish book, with many illustrations by Frank Verbeck. One of Baum’s most clever and entertaining works, based on the earlier and rare “A New Wonderland”.
Book is in fair to good condition only, offered at a deep discount because it is missing one of the 12 color plates. The cover of the book is fairly clean, with some wear to the cover writing, and some wear to edges and ends of spine as well. Inside, the front endpaper has a 1914 date and name in pen and former bookseller’s notations in pencil, also a small blue blot. The binding is tight though the rear hinge is starting to split at the ends. The 11 color plates are in nice condition, as are the pages except for a few small stains. I’ve read this book myself and it’s quite entertaining.
