Description
Here is a group of 3 early trade cards illustrated by Wizard of Oz book illustrator W W Denslow. They feature Roman child gods–Including Pluto with a bat, Bacchus with a wineglass, and Venus in a shell. Copyright 1884 by Baker and Hayes; very early examples of Denslow’s work. Included are 3 of a set of 4 total (Minerva is the other one). Pluto has the tiny B&H mark above the bat and the Baker & Hayes 1884 copyright at the bottom, while the other two cards do not, so may be a little later. These are lovely productions with vivid colors and gilt backgrounds. The same cards were used for advertising different businesses; included here are Bailey’s Honey of Tar, Grand Rapids farm implements , and Orange Clothing Co. This gig by Denslow is mentioned in the corrections/additions to the Greene/Hearn Bibliography on WW Denslow published in the Autumn 1980 Baum Bugle (p 17).
In very good condition with some wear to back of cards, and a fold mark to Pluto’s corner.
