The Master Key – L. Frank Baum
Indianapolis: The Bowen-Merrill Company, [1901]
First Edition, First State (Provenance - Dr. Richard R. Rutter Collection of Oz)
 
Description: Early science‑fantasy adventure by L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Illustrated with 12 color plates and additional black‑and‑white drawings by Fanny Y. Cory. Bound in olive‑green cloth with pictorial cover label.
 
This is the first edition, first state, with the comma in the last line of the copyright page incorrectly set. Binding “A,” with the Bowen‑Merrill imprint on the spine. Referenced in Bienvenue & Schmidt, p. 196. From the Dr. Richard R. Rutter Collection of Oz.
 
Physical Details: Olive‑green cloth, pictorial cover label. Illustrated with 12 color plates and numerous black‑and‑white drawings. Bowen‑Merrill imprint on spine.
 
Condition: Light edgewear; corners and spine tips bumped and rubbed. Hinges a bit loose. Ink stamp on front endpaper. Small chip to upper front flyleaf. A solid and presentable example of this scarce early Baum title.
 
A desirable first‑state copy of one of Baum’s earliest non‑Oz works.