Description
Here is a 1st edition, 1st printing of the Royal Book of Oz, published in 1921 by Reilly & Lee. This printing has 12 color plates by John R. Neill, with the plate opposite page 255 having a misprint–“SCARECORW’S” in the caption (see Bibliographia Oziana or The Book Collector’s Guide to Baum). Gray cloth with pictorial endpapers. The first Oz book written by Ruth Plumly Thompson, although originally credited on the cover to L. Frank Baum!
Condition is good but not very good. The cover pastedown has a chip at lower right corner as shown, the spine has light wear at ends, and the rear cover has an ink mark. Inside, there is a 1921 inscription on front endpaper, and the rear hinge has slight cracking evident. The ownership page has a neat name, and the title page has a large chip at the fore-edge. There is also about a 2.5″ closed tear on page 205 and shorter ones on p. 13 and 15. All 12 color plates are present, attached and are in beautiful condition. The rest of the pages are in good shape. A hard-to-find Thomspon first with all the color plates.
