Description
Here’s an item for the Oz collector who has (almost) everything–a 1933 book owned by Wizard of Oz illustrator John R Neill! The book is The Kennel Murder Case by S S Van Dine, published by Scribner’s in 1933. First printing with A on copyright page. But what makes it special is that John has boldly signed it inside the front cover, and it has his personal bookplate designed by his friend Joseph Clement Coll on the front endpaper! The bookplate depicts a man with face buried in book, parrot on shoulder, cat and violin at his feet in detailed line art, signed Coll 1905. Neill met and became friends with Coll in New York in 1900: https://www.pulpartists.com/Neill.html
The book is in good condition only–cover with soiling and fading, foxing to endpaper, soiling to some pages, Long Island Magic Circle bookshop seal on endpaper. 2176 written on front endpaper–possibly an inventory number for Neill’s library? Binding is tight and signature and bookplate in nice condition. I purchased this personally from the Neill family and it comes with a note from them. Neill signatures do not come on the market very often!
