Description
Here’s one of the rarest L Frank Baum books, The Army Alphabet, published by George M. Hill in 1900. A departure from Baum’s normal children’s books, this book has a page for each letter of the alphabet with associated Army scene on 26 of them. Gorgeous illustrations by Harry Kennedy, lettering by Charles Costello. Oversized, 10.375″ by 12.5″, with paper-covered boards and a cloth spine. First and only printing by Hill, with copyright notice on a separate leaf. According to the Christmas 1972 Baum Bugle, these books “are so fragile that today copies are very scarce.”
The book overall is in very good condition; it is complete but has been skillfully rebacked with navy cloth very similar to the original. The cover graphics and text are still bright and clear, with a scratch to rear cover. Inside, the blank endpapers have been replaced with a very close match; only noticeable upon close scrutiny. Title page, copyright page, all alphabet pages, and Costello lettering page are present and look great–the color illustrations are still quite vivid and fantastic! There is a long tear in the margin of the copyright page that was repaired on the back with archival tape, and I found two other closed tears at page edges (< 3/4″). A collectible copy overall. Photos and description by Wonderful Books of Oz, copyright protected through the DMCA act of 1998.
