164

Frank Joslyn Baum (1883-1958) & Mitt Youngren, illus.

The Laughing Dragon of Oz.

Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing, Co., 1934.
First and only edition, 16mo; illustrated in black-and-white by Youngren; bound in pictorial paper-covered boards (toned, short marginal tear to page 275; front endpaper split at gutter, minor fading, corners bumped and just exposed, small piece of ruled paper adhered to lower pastedown); 4 1/8 x 3 ¼ in. 

L. Frank Baum's eldest son, Frank, hoped to inherit the role of Royal Historian of Oz after his father died in 1919, but publishers Reilly & Lee instead selected Ruth Plumly Thompson. Nonetheless, Frank produced some Oz-related material over the next decade. The Laughing Dragon of Oz is the most famous example, as its publication caused Reilly & Lee to sue him and Whitman Publishing for copyright infringement. Their settlement stipulated that the book never be re-printed, making this one of the scarcest pieces of Oz memorabilia.

Bienvenue and Schmidt, page 152. 

From the Michael Charles Collection of L. Frank Baum and Oz books.

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