Signed book: The Wizard Of Oz. Later printing. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1903. Hardcover (with later dustjacket), 7.25 x 9.25, 208 pages. Signed and inscribed in fountain pen on the first free end page (in descending order): “To Collean, Christmas greetings, Love, Nan,” adding “1938,” at the bottom of the page, “Very best wishes to Collean, even tho’ I look mean!!—Mag the Hag–Margaret Hamilton,” “Sincerely, Frank Morgan,” “To Collean—Sincerely, Jack Haley,” “Bert Lahr (Lion),” “To Collean, best always, Ray Bolger,” adding a small Scarecrow sketch under his signature; and signed and inscribed in purple fountain pen on the second free end page, “For Collean—Love and all good wishes—from Judy Garland ‘Dorothy’”
The book itself rates very good, with some light toning to front pastedown, water staining and toning bottom of last few pages and back pastedown, scattered surface loss and wear to covers and heavier wear to the spine, mild toning to inside pages, rubbing and surface loss to front cover paste down, some mild toning to inside pages, and wear to head and heel of spine. The dustjacket rates very good, with scattered creases and paper loss, and mild toning. However, the two signed pages are in fine condition, with just a hint of mild toning, and some light handling wear, and are unaffected by any of the book’s flaws.
An iconic film in its own right, this book holds the distinction of not only bearing the signatures of the stars of the film (an extremely scarce and desirable item in its own right) but also one that only a film executive like Louis B. Mayer (who is credited with creating the Hollywood “star system” within MGM) could facilitate! Mayer—for whom the aforementioned “Nan” worked as a secretary—arranged to have the book signed by the cast members as a Christmas gift for Nan’s niece during the filming of the Wizard of Oz in 1938. Of course, the Oz set was the only “true” opportunity to get the entire cast on one object! Production of the film was a long and cumbersome task that ran from October 1938 to March 1939, with most of the cast devoting long hours. A culturally significant collection of signatures of six of the principal stars who made it happen, made even better by the always desirable Garland adding the character name Dorothy. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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