Tag: original art

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Special W W Denslow Issue of the Baum Bugle!

Artist W W Denslow. Note “Roycroft” carved into the cabinet to his left.

Oct 2015 Update: The Denslow Bugle issue is out; it’s beautiful, and I have a limited number of extra copies available for $15 plus shipping. You can purchase it here.   It is no longer available with Club membership as when I wrote the blog, below.

Are you a member of the International Wizard of Oz Club? I hope so, because if so, you’ll receive the special W. W. Denslow issue of the Baum Bugle magazine due out shortly! Denslow was co-creator of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz book with L Frank Baum, and he’s my favorite real-life Oz character. So I’m helping Bugle editor Craig Noble create and edit this special issue, on the 100-year anniversary of Denslow’s death in 1915.

While Denslow only illustrated a few of Baum’s books, he was a hugely prolific artist. This special issue will include two articles that I’ve written on Denslow and the Roycrofters (including a Roycroft checklist), and also will describe some newly discovered trade cards drawn by Denslow. Others will write about how Denslow’s artistic style developed, his Billy Bounce comic strip, his postcards, his personal archive, Denslow Island, and more. You’ll even get a peek at Oz Club members who proudly wear Denslow hippocampus tattoos!

To make sure you get this Ozsome issue (which will have some color pages for better display of Den’s art), make sure you join the Oz Club soon, here! It’s only $25 per year and will bring you together with a great group of people who foster Oz education and activities. Plus, you get the Bugle and 20% off books published by the Club.

Are you a Denslow fan already? Some of us would like to sponsor a memorial Denslow stone on the “Appian Way” walkway at the Roycroft campus in East Aurora, New York. If we get enough contributions, we can get a larger stone and have it engraved with his hippocampus symbol! Denslow deserves this recognition at the place where he contributed so much to the success of Roycrofters’ hand-crafted books. If you’d like to contribute, please contact me here.   Photos and description by Wonderful Books of Oz, copyright protected through the DMCA act of 1998.

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Tarot of Oz Original Art

Wizard of Oz Tarot Card Deck Original Art

Tarot of Oz Original Art 


This month I’m excited to be offering original art from the production of the new Shadow of Oz Tarot deck published by Illogical Associates. Ten different pieces of Oz-themed concept art by Giles Crawford are available; I’ll even mat and frame then for you! Each piece is associated with a specific tarot card, is rendered in gorgeous watercolor, and hand signed by Giles.In addition to the Button Bright and Poppy Field work shown, we have the Good Witch of the North, Jelia Jamb, Queen Ann, the Love Magnet, the Wizard, Glinda and more. Don’t miss the opportunity to choose art based on your favorite character! Each one of a kind, and no more will be available once these are gone. Also, order the tarot deck itself here. Don’t forget to check out this month’s New Listings –some rare items this month, including the 1961 Dick Martin Wizard (sold) and lots of Denslow items. Also, check out the Sale items–more marked down this month! 4/14/2015

Photos and description by Wonderful Books of Oz, copyright protected through the DMCA act of 1998. Please contact me for permission to use photos or text.

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Special WinkieCon Auction: 1962 Wizard of Oz Maps Original Art!

San Diego’s 1st Winkie Convention is less than two weeks away–August 8th-10th, 2014. Yours truly is managing the Dealer’s Room, which will be open all three days. If you’re attending the Con, I’ve been stockpiling some special Ozzy items that will only be available there!OzMapCroppedTwo

A silent auction for a set of original 1962 Wizard of Oz Club hand-drawn maps will be held at Wonderful Books of Oz’s booth. Oz cartographer Jim Haff painstakingly drew these giant, Ozzy-accurate maps for publication by the Oz Club: one of “The Marvelous Land of Oz”, and one of “The Magical Countries Surrounding Oz”. Artist and club member Dick Martin took Haff’s maps and embellished and produced the production version. The first edition maps were printed in 1962, with multiple later printings throughout the years. Even the printed maps from 1962 are scarce, because the club was so small then, but these are the original pieces of art by Jim Haff! This may be the only opportunity to add these truly one-of-a-kind set of two maps to your collection, each an individual work of art. Also useful for Ozian geography studies. These are much larger than the actual printed maps–size of each is about 23″x30-36″. The Land of Oz map is in blue ink with a few color additions, and the Countries map is in pencil with some color as well. Lot includes the original mailing envelope from Fred Meyer to Douglas Greene, inscribed “OZ Maps–Originals by Jim Haff 1962”. From the Fred Meyer collection, and guaranteed unique and authentic. Printed Oz map inset shown for reference only and is not included.

Bidding will start at $600 for the set of 2 maps. These are not in the normal Oz Club auction, but at my booth in the Winkie Dealer’s Room. Stop by in person to view and place your bid, or email Absentee Bids to me by August 7th, 2014. More information on the convention here: Winkie-Con.

Photos and description by Wonderful Books of Oz, copyright protected through the DMCA act of 1998. Please contact me for permission to use photos or text.