The Wonder City of Oz (1940, the first book by the renowned John Neill)

First Edition, First Printing, First State. Near fine in just about fine dust jacket. One of the best we've seen. The first Oz title written by John Neill, who illustrated every Oz book from 1904 to 1942. Wonder City is the first of three Oz books written and illustrated by Neill, where all three Oz books authored by Neill are considered part of the "Famous Oz Forty." A truly excellent copy for the Oz collector and fan alike. After the very first Oz book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Baum had a falling out with the illustrator, W.W. Denslow (a very poor decision for Denslow in hindsight). Soon thereafter, John R. Neill became the illustrator for the second Oz book, The Marvelous Land of Oz, published in 1904. Neill continued illustrating the series after Baum's death in 1919, providing critical continuity for Ruth Plumly Thompson, Baum's first author successor. Wonder City is the first of three Oz books written and illustrated by Neill after Thompson resigned in 1940. Neill's authored Oz books are considered part of the "Famous Oz Forty." Just about fine in just about fine dust jacket, with only very slight chipping to spine head and a bit of top edgewear. One of the best we've seen. Just about fine in publisher's original red-orange cloth, with color pictorial image pasted down to front board. Titles and decoration to spine in black, with illustrated endpapers, small bump on front board edge, very slight foxing to rear pastedown and paper. Illustrated throughout in black and white. A very bright copy. Octavo. 318 pp.