Description
Here is an unusual early book with cover design by W.W. Denslow of Wizard of Oz fame: Rex Wayland’s Fortune by H. A. Stanley. First or early edition published by Laird & Lee in 1897, with a beautiful stylized cover with gilt and silver ornamentation and gilt top edge. The design wraps around to the spine and rear cover. Denslow designed a number of elaborate book covers for Rand McNally and other publishers during the 1896-1899 period, and this book is listed in the book “W. W. Denslow” by Greene and Hearn (p. 198) and in Denslow’s business journal. For more info, see the Oz Enthusiast blog at http://theozenthusiast.blogspot.com/2008/05/denslow-covers.html or the Spring 2015 Baum Bugle. (Internal illustrations are likely by another artist.)
The book has 391 numbered pages, and is in very good minus overall condition. The cover is in very good condition with a little fraying starting at spine ends. Inside, both hinges are cracked but binding is tight, tear to top of front free endpaper, gift inscription back of frontispiece. Tissue guard still present. Text pages are in very good condition. A nice copy of a rather scarce Denslow cover.