Description :

An early 20th-century edition of The New Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with illustrations by W.W. Denslow, the original artist of the Oz series. This copy bears the Bobbs-Merrill Company imprint and copyright dates of 1899, 1900, and 1903, indicating a printing from the early 1900s, likely circa 1903–1904.

The front endpaper includes a contemporary inscription: “Alma M. Howe – Xmas 1904,” marking it as a cherished Christmas gift from the era. Bound in pictorial boards with Denslow’s distinctive artwork of the Cowardly Lion roaring among poppies on the front cover, and a partial illustration of the Tin Woodman on the back.

Physical Details

• Publisher: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Indianapolis

• Illustrator: W.W. Denslow

• Printer: Braunworth & Co., Bookbinders and Printers, Brooklyn, N.Y.

• Binding: Original pictorial paper-covered boards with leather spine (heavily worn)

• Interior: Illustrated title page and chapter vignettes in Denslow’s signature art style

Historical Context

The New Wizard of Oz is the revised and retitled edition of Baum’s 1900 classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Issued by Bobbs-Merrill around 1903–1904, it aimed to capitalize on the success of the popular 1902 stage musical adaptation. The text was lightly edited, and the title updated to appeal to contemporary audiences discovering the story through the theater.

Collecting Note

This edition is highly collectible among Baum enthusiasts and early American fantasy collectors. Copies in any condition are sought for their vibrant Denslow illustrations, transitional title, and connection to the earliest years of Oz publishing. Early inscriptions such as this (dated 1904) enhance provenance and historical value.