In the days before streaming became commonplace, it was an annual tradition in many households to look forward to the night when The Wizard of Oz film would air on television. Although not my favorite movie, it was always breathtaking to see the screen transition from black and white Kansas to the colorful world of Oz. In recent years, movie theatres have celebrated the seminal anniversaries of the film and have shown it on the big screen, amplifying the beauty of the cinematography.
The year 2024 marks the 85th anniversary of the film’s release. While we have previously described various AHC holdings relating to the Wizard of Oz, including the books and the film’s scripts, a recent acquisition to the Toppan Rare Books Library includes not only additional Oz books, but also a junior edition of the series, published by Rand McNally in 1939.
There is not a lot of information about this series available, but it does appear that there were nine books available. Toppan’s Connie Marcus Collection has eight of the nine books including Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse of Oz; The Scarecrow and Tin Wood-man of Oz; The Land of Oz; The Road to Oz; The Emerald City of Oz; The Patchwork Girl of Oz; Rinkitink in Oz; and The Lost Princess of Oz.[1] Each book has a main title for the central story, but also includes another short story from the Oz collections.
The numerous books and editions of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz world are well-documented with checklists and published bibliographies dating back to the 1960s. However, these bibliographies—the most referenced being the Bibliographia Oziana—focus primarily on books published before 1919. Although the bibliographies include information on later editions, the 1976 issue does not mention a junior edition at all. Additionally, online and library catalog resources provide only basic publication information about the books.
While Baum’s books have been heavily studied, the junior edition seems to be a series that invites examination and further research, especially in areas of children’s literature. It could be that the edition’s publication date was intended to coincide with the film’s release. Were the books designed with thoughts of the motion picture cinematography in mind, considering how the land of Oz and its inhabitants are portrayed with the liveliness and richness of the movie as Dorothy opens the door to Oz? Like the movie, the colors in the junior edition are as bright and colorful as they were when first published. Although it is evident that the copies in Toppan have been read and used throughout the decades, there is no deterioration in the covers or the illustrations.
While the illustrations in the classic editions of the Oz books are known for their imagination and beauty, the illustrations and colors of the junior edition add to the stories. They bring to life some of the vibrancy and brightness described in the series’ text, adding a layer of vividness and charm to the narratives.
The junior edition featured artwork by long-time Oz illustrator John R. Neill, and the similarities to his other drawings are obvious. It would be interesting to see if his other editions are consistent or if he tailored these books for a different audience.
Perhaps one of the most popular questions asked of the Toppan staff is, “What is your favorite book in the collection?” We all have our different favorites and I find that my response differs depending on books I am using in a particular project. But I regularly point to this group of eight books more than any others because of the covers. Not only are they unique yet similar in their design, but the colors of the covers and illustrations draw the reader in. They’re inviting and add so much to the stories themselves.
The recent acquisition of the Oz junior edition opens up new research opportunities to explore an overlooked part of the beloved series’ publishing history. As we celebrate the 85th anniversary of the iconic film, these books’ unexpected condition, artwork and place in Oz literary chronology warrant closer study. They highlight the enduring imaginative legacies of author L. Frank Baum and illustrator John R. Neill.
Post contributed by Toppan Rare Book Library Curator Mary Beth Brown.
[1] The one Oz book that is not in the Toppan Rare Book Library collections is Little Dorothy and Toto of Oz.
