1960 VISITORS FROM OZ Publicity Prints: Set of 4 by Dick Martin (Wizard of Oz)

Item Details

Chicago, Reilly & Lee, 1960

The Visitors from Oz book was published in 1960 and is based on the Queer Visitors From The Marvelous Land of Oz, a 1904 comic page written by L Frank Baum. This set of 4 prints were issued as part of the publicity for the Visitors book. The book was illustrated throughout in color and B&W by the wonderful Dick Martin, who illustrated some later Oz books for Reilly & Lee and also was very involved with the early days of the Wizard of Oz Club. Featuring Baum's wacky characters like Jack Pumpkinhead, Professor Wogglebug and The Gump as well as more traditional Oz characters.

Apparently in very limited distribution in the Chicago area, I've only seen these prints a couple times before, and never with the original publicity envelope. The prints are 9 1/2" by 12 1/4" and are slightly larger than the pages of the book, in which the artwork was trimmed at the edges. These images really show Martin's exuberant style and love of bright colors. The prints are shown next to the pages in the actual book (not included. The prints are in very good condition, two with a tiny bit of red ink along the very top margin. The envelope has some wear with a small piece of archival tape internally repairing part of the flap, and “Anne” written in pencil on the back.