Description
An amazing piece for the high-end collector: two original printing plates from a double page illustration by John R Neill for The Silver Princess in Oz book (pp 98-99). These two plates feature Randy and Kabumpo’s first meeting with Planetty, the Silver Princess: “and Randy, sliding to the ground, came over to stand nearer to this strange little Princess.”
The two plates are housed in a custom clamshell box, displayed with a professionally printed proof. Also includes the fine press booklet John R. Neill: Imperial Illustrator of Oz by Oz (2014). in which Oz expert Michael Patrick Hearn discusses the relationship between John R Neill, Reilly & Britton/Lee and L Frank Baum. Hearn also notes: “It had long been assumed that all of the original printing plates for the Oz Books had been destroyed over the years first during the scrap metal drives of World War II and after Reilly & Lee was purchased by Henry Regnery, who eventually dropped all of the Oz titles except Baum’s. Unexpectedly last December a significant number of these long forgotten plates turned up in New York. They came from the internationally renowned Richard Manney collection of rare books and comprise the only set known to have survived”. See also http://theozenthusiast.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-printing-plate.html for more information, including a comment by Paul Bienvenue on the likely date range for these plates.
The case measures 17″x13″ with a gilt spine marked “Patchwork Girl / John R Neill / Original Plate The Silver Princess in Oz / Chicago 1913”. Since most of the plates discovered were from The Patchwork Girl of Oz, the case retains that information. , but these are definitely from The Silver Princess (pp. 98-99). A rare find, in excellent condition with just light wear to the case. These two plates were originally offered at $3500 (see last image). A truly one-of-a-kind item for your collection. They also make a nice display piece (if you have room!). I have one of the Woozy on a place of honor beside my first of The Wonderful Wizard and a Jeweled Toad signed by Denslow.
Please note: Shipping will be via FedEx Ground, insured, which I have estimated at $65 for California to New York (actual cost, which is much less than what I paid to have them shipped to me). They are very large and heavy. If you live closer and shipping is substantially less, I will refund you the difference.
Photos and description by Wonderful Books of Oz, copyright protected through the DMCA act of 1998.
