Description
Here is an unusual edition of The Cowardly Lion of Oz, written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. Two things make this book special: first, it has the gorgeous and scarce Dick Martin dust jacket, and second, that a printer’s error put a Copp Clark (Canadian) title page into a book with a Reilly & Lee spine imprint and dust jacket. This book is discussed on p. 15 in the reference on Canadian Oz books, Oz in Canada: “In 1960, two new Copp Clark variants were inadvertently created when the original Canadian printing plates were used to print the title pages of new impressions of Glinda of Oz and The Cowardly Lion of Oz…It was thought for many years that only six copies of each of these two titles escaped being withdrawn, but collectors have discovered more.” Well, here is another one!
This is a later edition with black and white illustrations and no front cover pastedown. Book is in great condition, the ownership page filled in and some age toning to endpapers, with stamped price but otherwise clean and tight. The dust jacket is very good, not price clipped, light wear to spine ends, some light foxing. Overall, a beautiful copy of a hard to find variant. Also one of my favorite Martin dust jackets.
