Baum, L. Frank — John R. Neill (illustrator) | A cast-signed copy of this charming Oz sequel

Baum, L. Frank — John R. Neill (illustrator)

The Tin Woodman of Oz. Chicago: The Reilly & Lee Co., 1918 [but ca. 1935]

4to (230 x 173 mm). Numerous black and white full-page and in-text illustrations; front-free endpaper and half-title loose but holding, half-title lightly dampstained, minor toning to leaves, a few stray stains, pen marks, and adhesive residue to gutter of one text leaf. Brown cloth with colorful pictorial label to upper cover, printed black title and Tin Man vignette to spine; upper hinge cracked but holding, corners and head and foot of spine bumped and lightly frayed with some loss, light wear to pictorial cover label, stain to lower cover, lacking dust jacket, adhesive residue with some abrasions to front free endpaper recto not affecting signatures.

Baum's playful Oz sequel, inscribed by the principal cast of The Wizard of Oz (1939) including Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton, and more.

The twelfth installment in the Oz series, in which Baum reveals the beloved Tin Man's human backstory. Baum's Wizard of Oz inspired one of the most iconic films in history. The present lot is signed on the verso of the front-free endpaper and the half-title by the film's stars: Jack Haley (The Tin Man), Ray Bolger (Scarecrow), Bert Lahr (Cowardly Lion), Frank Morgan (the Wizard), Billie Burke (Glinda), Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch of the West), and Judy Garland (Dorothy). Haley, Morgan, and Hamilton have addressed their inscriptions to "Bill": "Bill / greatest wishes," Jack Haley writes; "To Bill - best wishes," Margaret Hamilton writes. Garland, opting for a more formal inscription, has signed the half-title, "To William / Warmest wishes / Judy Garland." Evidently a later printing (Greene & Hanff).

A glimpse behind-the-curtain at the enduring Hollywood classic.

REFERENCES

Greene & Hanff XII