Description

Here is an unusual version of The Wizard of Oz, The Wizard of Oz Story Book published by London’s Hutchinson Co. in 1940. This large, softcover abridgement of the book has a color graphic from the MGM movie on the front and rear cover, and 64 pages. Oddly, it credits W. W. Denslow for the illustrations (all black and white in this version), but never mentions Oz author L. Frank Baum. This scarce version is listed in Bibliographia Oziana (1988) on page 44, and is shown in The Wizard of Oz Collector’s Treasury (1992) on page 53. Oddy, this seems to be a variant with a stapled binding, while the other copies I’ve seen were perfect bound, which are more fragile.

This book is in fair condition only, with a long ~5″ tear on the front cover and first page (half-title). Rear cover has the same graphics and is better. Colors still quite vibrant. Heavy foxing to the inside of the front cover. Bottom corner of many pages folded, and one page has Dorothy’s dress colored pink. The other pages and illustrations are all intact and in very good condition overall-with just age browning. Very tough to find this book in any condition.